In an effort to improve the health and safety of NFL players, the NFL has made rule changes over time to effectively eliminate kickoff returns, or at the very least, decrease them. In 2009, the Competition Committee banned three or more players from forming a wedge. Two years later, they moved the kickoff yard line from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. In 2016, teams became incentivized not to return kickoffs as the ball was placed on the 25-yard line, an increase from the 20-yard line, after a touchback. Two years later, double teams on kickoff returns were banned, and in 2023, the following rule was passed: if the return man called for a fair catch before the 25-yard line, the ball was automatically placed on the 25-yard line.
New Kickoff Rule Could Be Coming In 2024
