The NFL has taken another step toward making kickoff returns less attractive for teams. On Tuesday, the league’s ownership voted to approve a new fair catch rule that will likely disincentivize teams from running back kicks.
Playing Rule Proposal 16A, which was submitted by the NFL competition committee and unanimously opposed by special teams coordinators, effectively increases the touchback zone on kickoffs. As stated in the proposal, the new rule will do the following:
Effect: For one year only, puts the ball in play at the receiving team’s 25-yard line if there is a fair catch on a free kick (kickoff and safety kick) behind the receiving team’s 25-yard line.