NFL’s new kickoff rules will impact game noticeably in 2024

The NFL has implemented a new rule involving kickoffs for the 2024 campaign, designed to focus more on safety while injecting some excitement into what has become a mundane play.

All players on the kicking team, except the kicker, will line up with one foot on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. These players cannot move until the football hits the ground or a player in the landing zone. Nine players on the receiving team will line up between the 30- and 35-yard lines, with two additional players in the landing zone, positioned between the 20-yard line and the goal line. Any kick falling in the landing zone must be returned. If the ball is downed in the receiving team’s end zone, it will be spotted at the 20-yard line. Kicks out of the back of the end zone will be placed at the receiving team’s 30-yard line. No fair catches are allowed.

In 2023, 78.3% of NFL kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi views this as a positive move, stating, “We feel like we’ve revived a dying play.”

Chalmette native Bobby April, who spent 25 seasons as an NFL special teams coordinator and was twice recognized by the League as Special Teams Coach of the Year (2004, 2008), supports the significant change.

“Each season, there are about 1,800 touchbacks in NFL games, so you want some bang for your buck,” explained April. “They’ve had 5-6 different rules in the past ten years. The evolution of it. I feel like where it is now, it’s all about safety.”

The NFL anticipates an uptick in returns, which will affect between 50 and 60 percent of kickoffs.

“There will be less pressure on the kicker,” April continued. “They won’t need any hang time. They won’t have to practice kicking off. It will be like hitting fungo batting.”

The safety and simplicity of the play were strong considerations in the final decision. “This will be a piece of cake,” April analyzed. “Now kickers take a 3-5 step approach and let it go. You won’t have to work on squib kicks at practice.”

Onside kick attempts must inform the receiving team. No more than two onside kicks are allowed each game, and none until the 4th quarter. No squib kicks are permitted.

April’s special teams had 21 kicks returned for scores in 25 seasons, not including blocked punts. Under his guidance, in a 1999 matchup between the Saints’ special teams unit and the Carolina Panthers, the Black and Gold had a block and scoop and score at the Superdome, en route to a 19-10 Saints victory.

“We finished first (in NFL special teams) three times while I was in Buffalo. We had eight really good players. There were times we’ve been good with three to four or six really good special team players. If you don’t have at least three to four good special teamers, it’s like Russian Roulette. I had six good ones in Pittsburgh, six to seven in Atlanta. The more, the better. There is not a lot of gang tackling on kickoffs.”

Jerry Glanville was the head coach of the Houston Oilers (1986-’90) and Atlanta Falcons (1990-’94). His background was as a defensive coordinator and special teams coach. April learned the ropes in the NFL as a special teams coach from Glanville and was an extension of the veteran NFL coach, who was often perceived as a quirky individual, at times leaving game tickets at Will Call for celebrities, dead or alive, like Elvis Presley. As a coach, Glanville was no joke, however.

“(Jerry) was energetic, an aggressive coach,” described April. “He taught me schemes and special teams in the NFL. He had lots of energy and imagination; the pace is what he wanted. We used a ton of starters on special teams.”

Falcons five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Tuggle was a key ingredient on the special teams units. The Falcons Ring of Honor member made a true impact in two of the three phases of the game.

With the kickoff becoming a vital play in the NFL for ’24, teams have focused more attention on that phase of the game during the just-completed NFL Draft.

Northwestern State alum Terrence McGee played cornerback for the Buffalo Bills (2003-2012) but made his bones on special teams, twice earning second team All-Pro honors. He returned seven kickoffs for scores, three in 2004 alone.

“Terrence (McGee) was powerful. He broke tackles, tremendous instincts,” April said. “He made the correct decision on a kickoff return 90% of the time. He was not afraid of contact.”

April also utilized a pair of All-Pro cornerbacks as return specialists, Deion Sanders (Atlanta) and Rod Woodson (Pittsburgh). “What people don’t know about Deion is he is an ultra-competitor no matter what he does,” Bobby chuckled. “With his talent and skill, he could will himself into doing anything. Rod (Woodson) was the complete opposite of Deion. Deion was finesse all the way. Rod was physically tough, like a linebacker playing cornerback. He could have been a mixed martial arts type of guy, but he also had blazing speed.”

April recognized a few special teamers familiar to Saints fans. Fred McAfee spent 16 seasons in the NFL, with two tours of duty with New Orleans (1991-’93, 2000-’06).

“I had him in Pittsburgh. He loved the game. He was tough, he had instincts. He was unselfish.” McAfee recorded 90 special team tackles.

“Bennie Thompson (1989-’91), a New Orleans native (McDonogh High School), rarely started in the secondary, but he could outplay everybody on special teams. Tough as hell, very unselfish. Steve Gleason (2000-2006) was the very same way.”

In order to play special teams, you must possess mental toughness and have a unique makeup. “Starters do not relish the opportunity to play special teams,” April added. “If a player is giving half-hearted effort, he can’t help. You need a mentality that you are going into the briar patch and do it with full-speed contact. That’s not easy. You have to have instincts. You cannot have improper spacing. On an open field, everybody has to be intuitive and have good awareness and pursuit skills. The bigger the space, the more instincts you need.”

The rule change will inject some juice into games. Concussions, which prompted rule changes throughout the past, are expected to decline.

“I think the kickoff will be a competitive play,” April analyzed. “It will be a little different, but it’s the best thing the NFL has done in 10 years. It’s a contact sport. I see football back in 1991 with the 4-man wedge, the evolution of safety being a primary concern. They have been preaching how dangerous kickoffs have been with concussions. There won’t be as many. I think it will be cut way back. The collision course will be greatly reduced. This is actually the way the NFL has practiced special teams for years to avoid injuries at practice. This is not something new in that regard.”

With the NFL addressing the next wave of veteran free agency soon, front offices will maintain a keen eye toward improving their roster with a stronger consideration toward special teams.

“I think it will give the League motivation to get special teams more so than the last 5-10 years. There will be more plays involved. Recently special teams became less and less important due to (safety) rules. NFL teams will now look for playmakers.”

With the change becoming a reality, the average NFL fan won’t be getting up from his seat for kickoffs any longer. “Some organizations put more emphasis on special teams,” April concluded. “Every special teams coach will have more say-so in regard to the drafts and roster. You need playmakers. You will always have that entire level of mentality for special teams, but this new rule will add plays to the season.”

Somehow, I can envision the NFL’s elite all-time return specialists, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Devin Hester, Mel Gray, Desmond Howard, Brian Mitchell, Eric Metcalf and the Human Joystick, Dante Hall, all collectively responding, “It’s about time!!!”