Opinion: Tyler Hibbard Discusses the NFL Kickoff Rule

New NFL rules don’t just have fans all riled up, but the players are upset too.  In particular the new kickoff rule for the special teams units.

The new free kick rule states that a free kick must take place on the 35 yard line, whereas the previous rule stated the ball should be kicked from the 30 yard line. This makes the ball go five yards farther than it normally would. The returners though, still lineup at the same spot as they did before the rules were enforced, at the opposite end zone line.

With the previous rule, returners already had the ball kicked over their heads, sometimes even in the middle of the endzone. This being said, if the returner catches the ball in the endzone they have two options.

One, look upfield, and, if they have good blocking or a hole somewhere, take off running. If and when they are tackled will mark the spot of the ball and where their offense will start their drive.

Their second option is to down the ball in the end zone causing a touchback and the ball being spotted on the 20 yard line. This rule of a touchback is the same as the kicker kicking the ball out of the end zone, having the same effect and making the spot of the ball on the 20 yard line.

This is where I have the problem. I have been a fan of the NFL for many years, and I have always enjoy all the exciting plays in the game. Seeing a ball kicked out of bounds and not even allowing a play to form is almost as bad as watching competitive chess.

Right before every kickoff is a set of commercials, which is also not exciting at all. So, why would any fan want to come from 30 seconds to 1 minute of boring to again more boring? Usually after a kickoff there is another short set of commercials to give the offense time to get onto the field. Sometimes, with the commercials and the unexciting touchbacks, 2-3 minutes of my life are wasted per kickoff.

What the NFL should do to make the kickoffs exciting again is start by moving the ball spot back to the 30 yard line. That way there won’t be so many touchbacks. I do think that the kicking team shouldn’t get a running start, that way the kickoff returns will be longer and probably more exciting.

If all this changes, there will be more people paying attention during kickoffs. The NFL is a business, and if they want it to stay that way they need to find a way to make their fans and players happy, and keep the NFL the most viewed sport in the United States.