One of the primary talking points for the 2024 NFL season is the NFL’s new kickoff rules. The new rules, which were approved by the 32 owners at the Annual League Meeting in March, are intended to bring back the kickoff return as a meaningful and exciting play.

The new rules will now line up the kicking team at the receiving team’s 40-yard line. The receiving team, outside of the one or two returners, will line up between their own 30-35-yard line. The kicking team is not allowed to move until the football hits the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone. The kicker, who still kicks the ball from their own 35-yard line, cannot cross the 50-yard line until the ball hits the ground or a player in the landing or end zone.

Detailed view of the NFL logo on the side the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Everton FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 24, 2024 in London, England….
Detailed view of the NFL logo on the side the stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Everton FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 24, 2024 in London, England.

Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

These rules also discourage touchbacks. Touchbacks will give the receiving team the ball all the way at the 30-yard line.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and Hall of Famer Bill Cowher is excited about the new rule, and that it will bring back the kickoff return to the NFL.

“I like it. No. 1, we’re trying to bring back the return,” CBS analyst Bill Cowher said last month, via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. “You had 13 kickoffs in the Super Bowl and not one was returned. I understand that part of it. It looks strange at first, but I’m excited for it. I’m hoping this brings the return back into play and it’s much safer.”

The kickoff return has nearly died out recently. Due to the amount of injuries on the play and teams getting the ball on the 25-yard line after a touchback, many teams simply took the touchback. These rules are intended to make the play an exciting part of the game again while reducing the amount of injuries on the play.

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“Then I think it’s more of a deterrent to kick the touchback,” Cowher said. “Right now, I don’t think that’s the case. The other thing this does is kickers become more involved in the game because now it’s more like a punt return. I don’t think you want to risk the kick.”

The new rule could prove to be a major factor in how the outcomes of games during the 2024 season. Special teams are often taken for granted but will become critical depending on which teams successfully defend or utilize their returners on these plays.