Under the guise of player safety, returning teams can now call a fair catch on a kickoff inside the 20 and start the ensuing drive at the 25 yard-line. Now you don’t have to kick the ball into the end zone for it to be a touchback.
If you have an excellent kicker, this rule eliminates a special teams advantage. No longer will you be able to use a high kick inside the ten to pin back your opponent; they can just wave for a fair catch and start at the 25. Former All-American Kentucky returner Derek Abney told the Herald-Leader the rule change could actually make kickoff returns more dangerous.