Dallas Cowboys

Special teams coaches do not like change in kickoff rule. NFL goes ahead with it anyway

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher kicks the ball during the first half against the New York Giants. The NFL recently approved a new rule that alters kickoffs.
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher kicks the ball during the first half against the New York Giants. The NFL recently approved a new rule that alters kickoffs. Madeleine Cook mcook@star-telegram.com

The NFL approved a new rule Tuesday that will go into effect during the 2023 season.

The rule will automatically place the ball at the 25-yard line on any fair catch inside a team’s own 25 on a kickoff or safety kick.

NFL.com’s Tom Pellissaro reported that special teams coordinators were unanimously against the rule change though that didn’t stop its passage.

With the new rule in effect, teams will have less incentive than ever to return kickoffs since they can just fair catch and put the ball on the 25-yard line.

This rule change will be in effect for one year only and will then be re-examined. The NFL cited player safety as its reasoning behind the new rule and cited the NCAA’s kickoff rules as a template.

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Lawrence Dow
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Lawrence Dow is a digital sports reporter from Philadelphia. He graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from USC. He’s passionate about movies and is always looking for a great book. He covers the Texas Rangers and other sports.
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