The NFL Is Proposing Significant Change To Kickoff Rule

The NFL's current rules change the spot for the kickoff when a 15-yard penalty is applied to the play.

However, nothing else about the play changes.

Currently, the best strategy for a kickoff from the 50-yard line is a kick straight into - or out of - the end zone, resulting in a touchback at the 25-yard line.

But the NFL wants that to change.

NFL proposes change to kickoff rule

The NFL is proposing a change to the rules.

"The new batch of Competition Committee rules proposals includes one that, if adopted, replaces the deliberate out-of-bounds kick with something even better than the 25. A kickoff from the 50 that lands in the end zone (and isn’t returned) or goes out of the end zone results in the receiving team getting the ball on its own 20," PFT reported.

"Why the 20 and not the 25? The league likely wanted to simplify the number of potential outcomes after a kickoff from the 50."

There are some possible outcomes.

"Already, the various possibilities (the 20 for a kick that lands in the landing zone, goes into the end zone and isn’t returned; the 35 for a kick into the end zone and isn’t returned or goes through the end zone; the 40 for a kickoff out of bounds or short of the landing zone) are a lot to remember. For a kickoff from the 50, the 25 no longer gets added to a menu that would have had four different potential outcomes," he added.

Does the NFL need to adopt new rules?