The innovation of spring football continues to make shockwaves across the scene as a whole. As of today, an XFL-style kickoff has been voted on and approved by NFL owners.
NFL owners voted to approve the new kickoff rule.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
This proposal was very similar to what we saw in the XFL during the 2020 and 2023 seasons. The new kickoff was designed by Sam Schwartzstein, who in 2020 was in charge of developing the innovative rules for the XFL to implement.
NEW NFL KICKOFF PROPOSAL.
*Kicking Team: The 10 players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone.
*Receiving Team: All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the… pic.twitter.com/aGwzWORSCr
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 20, 2024
While there are some minor tweaks to this system as a whole, the general principle remains the same. The point of this kickoff is to encourage returns – as the XFL had over 90% of their kickoffs returned during their 2023 season.
In the NFL, with touchbacks becoming more and more common, the league had to do something with the kickoff. Either you take it away fully, or figure out a way to work it back into the game in a safe way. The XFL did exactly that, as players are set up much closer to the returner, but are not allowed to move until the ball is touched.
Here’s what the new NFL kickoff will look like this season: pic.twitter.com/vtR5bqGZLK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2024
This means that injuries are far less common within the XFL’s system, as high impact collisions are almost entirely avoided. Not only that, but it allows for teams to be creative, which should bring even more excitement to the NFL as a whole.
Those of us who watched the XFL’s season in 2020 will always remember Joe Powell’s unbelievable touchdown with the St. Louis Battlehawks:
I wonder…