The NFL is considering a rule change following criticism from former President Donald Trump, according to a report.
The league introduced the dynamic kickoff during the offseason in an attempt to revive kickoffs after earlier changes were made amid concerns for player safety.
However, just four weeks into the 2024 season, the league could take a 180-degree turn.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggested changes could be coming, hinting that moving touchbacks up to 5 yards could also be on the cards.
“I think we’re going to have to make some changes to the kickoff that I think will lead to a lot more kickoff returns,” Goodell said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Tuesday.
The NFL (pictured right, Commissioner Roger Goodell) is considering a rule change after former President Donald Trump (left) targeted the league’s start.
He added that the competition committee meeting will be held next week to discuss the changes.
The NFL has been changing kickoff rules in recent years due to safety concerns, but has noticed fewer kicks being returned as a result. For example, last season, only 21.8 percent of kickoffs were returned. In 2010, that figure was 80 percent.
So, to revive the kickoff, the NFL changed the rules once again.
For a standard kickoff, the ball is kicked from the 35-yard line with all 10 kick coverage players lined up on the opposing 40-yard line: five on each side of the field. In theory, this structure will reduce the number of high-impact collisions on kickoffs.
Meanwhile, the returning team has at least nine blockers lined up in the ‘setup zone’ between the 30 and 35 yards and at least seven of those players touch the 35.
Up to two returners are allowed within 20.
Only the kicker and two returners may move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner within 20.
And any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and possession at the 30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or the end. zone will also result in a touchback at the 30.
Goodell’s suggestion came just a couple of days after Trump voiced his criticism of the rule change at the Alabama-Georgia college football game over the weekend.
The league introduced dynamic kickoff during the offseason in an attempt to revive them.
Trump, Herschel Walker (center) and Clay Travis pictured during Georgia-Alabama
“I don’t know what they’re doing with the kickoff return in the NFL, and I don’t want to get involved in controversy, but it looks really bad, and I realized they hadn’t done it in college, and “They shouldn’t do it, and I think the NFL should come back,” Trump told Outkick.com’s Clay Travis, an outspoken supporter of the 45th president, on Saturday.
Referencing the more traditional kickoff setup still used by the NCAA, Trump admitted that “maybe it’s a little more dangerous” before quickly contradicting himself.
“I doubt it’s any more dangerous,” he told Travis. ‘It’s, you know, it’s football. I think (the NFL) made a terrible mistake by doing that. But if you look at this, (college football hasn’t done it), it was the first thing I looked at and said, “have they done it?” It seems very strange and you can’t take something that’s working and change it.
“But this is really important football,” he said, referring to Alabama’s loss to rival Georgia. “And it’s great to see.”