What NFL rules are new for the 2024 season? A big change to kickoffs highlights the list

The NFL has drastically changed its kickoff rules for this season. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Even in its 105th season, the NFL is still tinkering with the rule book.

There are a few new rules that will be introduced this season, which isn’t unusual. But it will take some time for fans to get used to the new kickoff rule, which might be one of the most radical changes the game has had in a while.

Here are the notable new rules you’ll have to get used to for the 2024 season:

A major change to kickoffs

With most rules changes, even major ones, they don’t change how the game looks. Moving back the extra point to make it tougher was a big one, but it looked like an extra point just from further away.

Kickoffs, however, will look much different than what we’ve seen.

In an attempt to have more kickoff returns and make them safer, players on the kickoff team won’t line up next to the kicker and run all the way downfield anymore. That’s adopted from the way the XFL did kickoffs.

The kicker will still be at the 35-yard line. The kick coverage players will be lined up at the opponents’ 40-yard line. The returning team will have nine blockers lined up between their 30- and 35-yard line. Then one or two returners will be inside the 20. The coverage players and blockers can’t move until the ball is touched by a returner or hits the ground.

Any kickoff that falls in the “landing zone” from the 20-yard line to the goal line must be returned. A kickoff that falls in the landing zone and bounces into the end zone must be returned or downed for a touchback to the 20-yard line. A kickoff that reaches the end zone on the fly can be returned or downed for a touchback to the 30-yard line. If a kick fails to reach the 20-yard line, the returning team gets the ball at the 40-yard line.

The differences will force kicking teams to consider strategies and presumably try to have more kickoffs fall between the 20-yard line and goal line.

What the new kickoff rule does is reduces the…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-08-01 17:27:46

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