Embedded Files
The NFL has been testing a new kickoff format since the 2024 season, and it has gotten a lot of scrutiny and backlash on social media. Some fans see it as a positive move, a sign that the league is finally prioritizing player health and safety. Others think the new style is just plain anti-climactic and takes all the excitement out of the game.
There have been a ton of different takes and angles on how the NFL could change kickoffs, from moving the ball to getting rid of kickoffs and punts entirely. I don’t think the answer is that simple, and I definitely don’t agree with the way things are now. So I’ve put together things the NFL could have done instead
Yes, moving the ball could work, but only if it comes with other changes. Right now, kick returners start really deep in the end zone, which gives them a lot of space to set up but also leads to full-speed collisions that, let’s be honest, we all love to see but nobody wants to experience. If the NFL moved returners to the 20-yard line and didn’t allow them to cross until the ball passes them, either in the air or on the ground, while penalizing touchbacks to the 35-yard line to promote kicker accuracy, it could create a smarter, safer system.
If the ball lands within the 20-yard threshold, the returner could decide to return it or let the other team down the ball, which would require that "downing" the football on kickoff be legal. This might interfere with onside kicks, meaning teams would have to clearly specify normal versus onside kicks. If the ball is downed, the next possession would start right there, like normal. If it goes into the end zone, it goes to the 35. This setup eliminates the long runway for head-on collisions. Instead of full-speed crashes, you’d get more ankle-breaking jukes and form tackles. By the time the returner is allowed to move, if the ball has entered the 20-yard threshold, it would be unwise to pick it up, and even if he does, the impact would be much less damaging than two full-speed players colliding head-on.
Basically, collisions would naturally slow down just enough to reduce injuries. Players would still get the chance to make big returns and break tackles, but the high-speed crashes that land guys on injured reserve wouldn’t happen as often. Instead of just punting for a touchback or getting tackled immediately, returners might actually be forced to make smart reads and cut through gaps creatively. That’s exciting football for fans and safer football for players — a win-win that doesn’t require reinventing the wheel.
One of the biggest problems with kickoffs is that defenders get a full head of steam when chasing the returner. At full speed, collisions are brutal and dangerous. What if the NFL limited how far the coverage team could run before the ball is caught? A rule similar to the CFL or soccer offsides could make it illegal to cross the deepest blocker until the ball is caught or crosses the 20-yard line. This might be a stretch, but it would actually promote more playcalling on special teams, force attention to detail, and create new schemes and formations every game.
If the return team can’t utilize wedges anymore, they should have the luxury of a guaranteed blocker. This could slow down gunners coming in hot or even take them out of the play completely, opening wild lanes if the coverage team isn’t prepared. If the gunner still gets a clear shot at the returner, the 20-yard threshold will prevent him from building full speed before contact. This slows the impact just enough to prevent the worst injuries but still allows defenders to make key stops and big plays. You still get tackles that matter, forced fumbles, and momentum-changing hits, but you aren’t watching players run 50 yards at each other like missiles. It forces coverage players to focus on technique and timing instead of relying on pure speed. Fans still get excitement, returners still have to make plays, and the league actually protects its players. It’s not about killing the play; it’s about making it smarter.
If the NFL really wants to promote safety on kickoffs and punts, they need to incentivize fair catches and reward smart decisions. The fair catch has been around forever, but the league has never seriously rewarded it. A fair catch is a smart option for players when a dangerous situation is coming. What if the NFL made fair catches more beneficial, maybe giving slightly better starting field position after a fair catch or some other small incentive? Returners could then choose safety without feeling like they are losing the play.
This would need a lot of restrictions, including penalties for fair catch violations by the kicking team while the returner is signaling. This is more of a spark note than a fully polished idea, but it would give returners a real choice. It doesn’t ruin excitement either. There would still be the occasional electric return, surprise reverse, or trick play that makes highlight reels.
Remember when wedge blocks were a thing? Yeah, those were dangerous, and the NFL banned them, but there’s still a way to safely allow blockers to create lanes. Imagine controlled corridors where blockers can set up safely without letting defenders launch into each other at full speed. Returners get lanes to make plays, blockers get to create space, and big hits still happen, but without turning the play into a wrecking ball contest. Including wedges in this style of kickoff could make special teams feel like a major feature of the game again.
This kind of structure could make the kickoff feel strategic. Coaches would have to plan routes and timing carefully, returners would need to read lanes smartly, and fans would get the crazy returns they love without the constant threat of serious injury. It’s about keeping the play alive while keeping everyone on the field intact.
Kickoffs don’t have to be a liability. They’re one of the few moments in football that can still feel wild, unpredictable, and electric. The NFL just needs to find the sweet spot: protecting players while giving us the plays that make us jump off our couches. Moving the spot up, limiting running starts, rewarding fair catches, controlling wedges, and experimenting with creative rules could all do the trick. The league doesn’t need to kill the kickoff; it just needs to make it smarter, safer, and actually fun to watch again.
~Cody Z {SHU}
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse