As the NFL gears up for its fifth week of the regular season, the league’s newly modified kickoff rules are sparking conversations about their effectiveness. Recent statistics reveal that there has been only one touchdown return on kickoffs so far this season, with DeeJay Dallas of the Arizona Cardinals recording an impressive 96-yard return in the season opener.
Currently, projections indicate that teams will manage approximately 4.25 touchdown returns this season, a slight uptick from last year’s total of four. However, with plenty of games still ahead, judging the new rules solely based on touchdown returns might miss the broader goals the league has in mind.
The NFL adjusted the kickoff rules to encourage teams to return more kicks while advancing the kickoff coverage teams 25 yards upfield to minimize high-speed collisions that have historically resulted in injuries. As a result, the number of kick returns has markedly increased. After four weeks of action—excluding the recent Thursday night game—the league’s 32 teams have returned 187 out of 642 kickoffs, yielding a return rate of 29.1%. This is a noteworthy jump from last season’s return rate of just 21.7%.
Despite this rise, touchbacks remain high at 68.1%, a decrease from last year’s 73%. Coaches anticipate that touchback rates will decline as colder weather sets in. Philadelphia Eagles’ special teams coach Michael Clay shared his insights, stating, “There’s always going to be a cat-and-mouse game until the weather changes… But it’s interesting to see what schemes are being run around the league.”
According to the new rules, kickoffs that land in the designated “landing zone” must be returned, and coverage teams are required to remain stationary until the ball is in play. This approach marks a departure from past practices, where coverage teams would sprint downfield, often leading to dangerous collisions. Kickoffs, still initiated from the 35-yard line, demand strategic adjustments, especially when the ball lands in the end zone resulting in a touchback.
The NFL aims to enhance excitement during kickoffs, particularly in the early moments of the game. Unconventional formations and a kicker positioned as the last line of defense add a layer of intrigue, echoing some strategies from previous seasons.
Late-game onside kicks revert to the traditional rules, allowing teams to revert to familiar tactics. The league has historically seen a drop in kickoff returns, plummeting from 1,087 in 2022 to just 511 last year. Nevertheless, the average kickoff return this season has improved to 26 yards, compared to 21.8 yards in 2023.
Kickoff return strategies vary widely between teams; for example, Carolina’s Raheem Blackshear leads with 12 returns, while both Green Bay and Pittsburgh have recorded just one. The thrill of long returns has not yet become a regular occurrence, with Dallas’s 96-yard return standing out as one of only four returns exceeding 50 yards this season.
Looking ahead, Giants special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial emphasized the importance of analyzing the implications of touchbacks as the season progresses. He underscored that running backs like Eric Gray, who currently leads the team with 10 returns, bring essential skills such as ball security and field vision, making them well-suited for return scenarios.
As the season continues, the dynamics of kickoff returns are poised to evolve, potentially echoing strategies from the past that yielded extraordinary performances—such as Jacoby Ford’s memorable season with three touchdown returns in 2010—offering hope for more exciting moments in the weeks to come.
