Goodell, owners crushed by fans after fair catch rule approved

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Goodell, NFL owners crushed on social media after fair catch rule approved

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 5/23/23

The NFL approved a controversial, much-criticized rule change regarding fair catches and touchbacks on Tuesday.

The NFL just passed a rule (for one season) that if a fair catch is made on a kickoff anywhere between the 25-yard line and the goal line, the ensuing drive will start at the 25. The reason for change? Player safety. pic.twitter.com/JTIgkc7ptO
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 23, 2023

The feedback on the change has been largely negative, with much of the vitriol directed toward commissioner Roger Goodell.

Madness. A coach told me: “For the 1st time I can remember, you have coaches & players unanimously agreeing against a rule & it is being completely ignored. They’re making a rule w/ no one in the room to actually speak for the game: coaches, GMs. Anybody.” https://t.co/M9jNIAajBq https://t.co/qjRoK3Zgan
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) May 23, 2023

I’d also say this is more about the appearance of caring about player safety than actual player safety—given a mountain of data that the special teams coaches gathered to oppose the change.

Indeed, Goodell’s appeal to owners was based largely on legal liability. https://t.co/hxvJurAGlu
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 23, 2023

Coaches across the #NFL are in an uproar over this. “No one wants this rule,” I was told. And feeling inside the league is the players wanted no part of it, either. https://t.co/qGMoCOBMWJ
— Matt Lombardo (@MattLombardoNFL) May 23, 2023

NFL doctors’ evidence that this kickoff change had improved player safety in college was based on … wait for this … one season of Pac-12 data, per sources

Players & coaches foresee unintended consequences with a rule that completely misunderstands https://t.co/M9jNIAajBq
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) May 23, 2023

Heavy.com senior NFL reporter Matt Lombardo noted that the fair catch rule change uproar comes on the heels of other negative responses to rule alterations, including the "Thursday Night Football" flexing.

On Monday, numerous former players blasted the NFL over the fair catch rule change proposal, in anticipation of Tuesday's news. Among the critics were retired return specialist Brian Mitchell and ex-punter Pat McAfee.

The former Indianapolis Colts punter quote-tweeted reporter Ian Rapoport's post on Tuesday's news by writing " This is a joke."

The one positive with Tuesday's approval is that it will be used on a one-year basis — essentially a trial run. Critics are unlikely to take much solace in that though and will have to hope that the new change is gone in 2024.

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