The National Football League (NFL) has made its dynamic kickoff rule permanent following a one-year trial. Initially introduced to increase the return rate and improve player safety, the new format has shown success but didn’t meet the league’s expectations fully. Therefore, starting in 2025, a new modification will involve moving touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. This adjustment aims to incentivize more teams to keep the ball in play, thereby increasing the overall excitement and percentage of kickoffs returned.
During their meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, NFL owners approved several additional changes, including updates to overtime rules, expansion of replay assist capabilities, and other technical adjustments. One of the most attention-grabbing discussions revolved around the permanent establishment of the kickoff style, which mimics scrimmage play by positioning coverage players and blockers closer together. This change has already reduced high-speed collisions and has resulted in a 43% drop in concussion rates with fewer injuries overall. Despite these successes, the league observed that many teams preferred kicking into the end zone, which offered minimal penalty with average positions starting just at the 27.6-yard line.
Adjustments to move the touchback starting point to the 35-yard line aim to elevate the return rate from the 32.8% observed last season to somewhere between 60 and 70%, promising more thrilling gameplay with an expected increase in long returns.
Changes to overtime rules will parallel those in the postseason, providing both teams a possession opportunity even if the first scores a touchdown. The 2017 rule shortening regular overtime to 10 minutes remains unchanged, and discussions highlighted that teams winning the coin toss have a 75% winning chance. Modifications retain the nature of shortened sudden death while allowing tactical team decisions when possession might not occur again within the limited timeframe.
Replay assistance has been extended to allow the overturn of several objective calls, including facemask infractions and incorrect penalties, with obvious video evidence. While replay assists are apt for overturning errors like uncalled penalties, the league remains firm against using them to revise missed calls on the field.
Numerous procedural amendments have also been confirmed. Teams gain the freedom to engage with free agents via digital meetings during the legal tampering period, and rules around the injured reserve designation have changed to allow for better roster management. Furthermore, while certain votes—including the prohibition of the controversial “tush push” and alterations to the onside kick and playoff seeding criteria—are postponed until later meetings, the league reinforced their position on keeping certain plays and institutional procedures unaltered for the time being.