In case you haven’t heard yet, the kickoffs in the NFL in 2024 will be very different than they were in 2023. The NFL is adopting a modified version of the kickoff rules used by the XFL.
Where do you expect the KOR TD numbers in the NFL to go next season? How far do you think the touchback rate on kickoffs will fall? pic.twitter.com/nP6O71eArq
— Joe Mahoney (@ndjomo76) June 5, 2024
Here is the breakdown of the new kickoff from the league’s official site:
ALIGNMENT
- All kicking team players other than the kicker will line up with one foot on the receiving team’s B40 yard line
- Kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line until ball touches the ground or player in landing zone or end zone
- The 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone
- The receiving team will line up as follows:
- Setup Zone – a 5-yard area from the B35 to the B30 yard line where at least 9 receiving team players must line up
- At least 7 players with foot on the B35 yard line (restraining line) with alignment requirements (outside numbers, numbers to hashes, and inside hashes)
- Players not on the restraining line must be lined up in setup zone outside the hash marks
- All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone
- A maximum of 2 returners may line up in the landing zone and can move at any time prior to, or during, the kick
LANDING ZONE
- Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.