Of all the changes made to the NFL rulebook prior to the 2016 season, perhaps the most noteworthy was the one-year change to the touchback rule. Touchbacks on kickoffs now result in the ball being placed at the 25-yard line, rather than the 20, which we’ve become accustomed to. It was the latest step in the NFL’s fight against fun Bryan Walters the growing concern over head injuries relating to high-speed collisions. The idea was to sweeten the pot for teams and kick returners tempted to bring kicks out of the end zone. In theory, it should’ve done the opposite – why would kickers blast a kickoff seven yards deep into the end zone rather than pooch a kick short and make the returner get all the way out to their own 25-yard line.
The Seahawks should start taking advantage of the new touchback rule
