New kickoff rules confuse referees, ensure safety at Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It will take a while for everyone in the NFL to feel comfortable and confident with the new kickoff rules.

This also includes the civil servants.

There was confusion over a kickoff during the Jacksonville Jaguars' 26-13 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night. It was originally ruled a touchback, but after a lengthy discussion the decision was overturned and ruled a safety for the Jaguars.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson called the situation a lesson for the entire league and was pleased that, even though it took a while, the right decision was made in the end.

“I think it's a good training point for all teams to really coach our returners in this situation,” Pederson said. “It'll definitely be on the coach's video that comes out this week and it's really a good learning moment for everyone, including us, for our returners.”

“And it’s just a great way to learn this rule and the game of football.”

The situation developed as follows:

Jaguars kicker Cam Little's kickoff landed in the end zone and bounced back into the field. Chiefs returner Mecole Hardman grabbed the ball and brought it back into the end zone on his knees, so the referees ruled it a touchback.

However, Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell insisted to Pederson that it was a touchback, as did game official Zach Beistline over the headset from the coaches' box. So during the TV timeout, Pederson went to the referees, who had already spotted the ball at the 30-yard line, to make his case.

“The ball landed in the end zone and is still a live ball by the rules,” Pederson explained after the game. “Last year he would have been down, he would have been dead and the ball would have come out to the 25 or whatever it was last year. Now the ball is live, so the ball was in the end zone, came out to the half-yard line. The returner was in the end zone but pulled the ball back into the end zone when he got on his knees.”

“So safety. That’s the rule.”

Officials, led by referee Tra Blake, gathered, reviewed the play and ruled it a safety, giving the Jaguars a 20-10 lead with 26 seconds left in the first half.

“My point to the officers was they need to at least review it,” Pederson said. “Give us the opportunity to review it — not me, because I couldn't, but let the officers review it. And they sat down, they worked together, obviously they reviewed it.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who had running back Louis Rees-Zammit take a kickoff later in the game, said they would work to make sure everyone understands the rule.

“Usually, if the ball goes into the end zone and you touch it there, it's a dead ball,” he said. “We'll clean it up and see what they come up with.”