Why did the NFL change its kickoff rules? Explaining the league's reasoning behind the new special teams format

The NFL has introduced a new kickoff format for the 2024 season.

Gone are the days when thunderous 70-yard kicks from the end zone were necessary for a touchback at the start of every game.

To make kickoffs more fun—and safer—the NFL has made some major rule changes to special teams. Here's why.

NEW NFL RULES EXPLANATION: Kickoffs | Guardian Caps | No Convict Column

Why did the NFL change its kickoff rules?

The NFL changed the kickoff rules for two reasons: entertainment and player safety.

“To address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptable kickoff injury rate prior to that, NFL clubs have adopted a new kickoff rule for the 2024 season,” reads the headline on the NFL's official operations page explaining the new rule.

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The site also added the creation of a new form of free kick play, which aims to:

• Similar to a typical training play, with players from both teams positioned closer together and movement restricted to reduce space and speed.
• Encourage more returns.

With rule changes in recent seasons to avoid full-speed collisions, kickoffs have become obsolete.

The new kickoff rule is designed to increase the frequency of kick returns while reducing the number of dangerous collisions by positioning the gunners of the kick team and the blockers of the kick return team closer together.

You can watch a video of the new kickoff in live preseason action below.

Parker Washington returns the kickoff 74 yards!

📺: #KCvsJAX To @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XpqYhirBvD

— NFL (@NFL) 10 August 2024

If you're not yet up to date on the NFL's new kickoff rules, here's a breakdown from Jacob Camenker of The Sporting News.