NFL competition committee expected to propose change to kickoffs

A general overall view of SoFi Stadium during the opening kickoff between the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Rams. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL competition committee expected to propose additional change to kickoff rule

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 8:02 PM ET

The first year of the NFL's dynamic kickoff rule change mostly provided what the league hoped it would. It increased the number of kickoff returns while also cutting down on the concussion rate that existed on those plays.

Now the league is potentially looking into ways to bring the kickoff return back even more.

According to the Washington Post's Mark Maske on Tuesday, the NFL's competition committee is expected to propose another change to the rule in the coming weeks that move touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line.

The NFL competition committee, barring a last-minute switch, is likely to propose moving the spot of the touchback on kickoffs from the 30- to the 35-yard line, source says. The league and committee have discussed that modification to attempt to further boost the rate of returns.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) March 25, 2025

Under the rule change for the 2024 season, touchbacks were moved from the 25-yard line to the 30-yard line. The thought process was that by moving the touchback out further it would be a bigger incentive for teams to have their kickoffs land in the landing zone, resulting in more returns.

While it did do that to a point, there were still a significant number of kicks that went into the end zone as teams did not seem to care much about giving teams starting field position at the 30-yard line.

The NFL's return rate went from 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% in 2024.

The league anticipates an even bigger boost if the touchback was potentially at the 35-yard line.

An additional five yards might not seem like a big deal, but it potentially could be. Especially when compared to where the touchback line was just two years ago.

Assuming the proposal is made, it would need 24 owners to vote in approval of it.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

More must-reads: