The NFL has set its sights on revitalizing the kickoff game, with plans that could nearly double the percentage of kickoffs returned by the year 2025 if a new proposal to move touchbacks to the 35-yard line gets the green light.
Last season saw only 33 percent of kickoffs returned, a figure that jumped from 22 percent the previous year when the league implemented its new “dynamic” kickoff rule. While that uptick is a positive sign, it still marked the second-lowest return rate in NFL history. For context, in 2022, 38 percent of kickoffs were returned, and historically, kickoffs returned have been the norm rather than the exception—particularly before the sharp rise in touchbacks starting in 2013.
The “dynamic” kickoff rule of last season moved touchbacks to the 30-yard line, leading most teams to favor kicking the ball into the end zone to mitigate the risk of giving up a long return. This resulted in a whopping 64 percent of kickoffs being touchbacks.
Under the proposed modification to shift touchbacks further up to the 35-yard line, the league’s estimates suggest that a robust 60 to 70 percent of kickoffs could be returned. The Competition Committee’s research indicates that kicking teams are likely to engage the return game more frequently if they’re allowed a little extra room on touchbacks.
This proposed rule change isn’t just about boosting excitement; it’s about restoring the kickoff to its place as a dynamic and action-oriented play on the field. The NFL’s initial alterations to the kickoff rules were largely a response to rising injuries, and early data from 2024 suggests that these changes have paid off—injuries on kickoffs are now on par with those occurring during standard plays. As the league moves forward, the goal is clear: make kickoffs as thrilling and engaging as the rest of the game. Fans love the excitement of a full-speed return, and it seems the NFL is eager to deliver.
