The opening kickoff featured the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) Chris Szagola/AP
According to CNN
In the current NFL season, the league is in a transitional period: fans are getting used to new rules that affect the pace of play and players’ safety.
The most noticeable change in recent years concerns the kickoff: the update to the opening kickoff rule, implemented last year, has now become a permanent practice before the start of a new season.
The league assures that the new format improves safety, and early data indicate a reduction in risk. However, among fans and experts, opinions vary. The loudest critic is former President Donald Trump, who on Truth Social called for scrapping the rule, labeling it a “ridiculous” appearance and noting that it is “at least not less dangerous” than the previous version – a claim not borne out by NFL’s official statistics.
How exactly have the opening kickoffs changed and what effect are they having?
How the opening kickoff setup has changed
Under the old regulations, the kicker started from the 35-yard line with the aim of pushing the ball as far as possible and creating a contest in the open field beyond the end zone, which often ended in intense high-speed collisions between players.
Under the new scheme, the ball again starts from the same 35-yard line, but every player on the team, except the kicker, must now stand on the 40-yard return line with one foot on it. Also players must wait until the ball touches the ground or until the returner touches it within the 20-yard zone before moving forward.
Any kickoff that is caught by players or that lands in the return zone must be brought out; a kickoff that does not reach the return zone is recorded as a touchback and placed at the receiving team’s 40-yard line.
If the kickoff touched the return zone but then entered the end zone, it must be returned or controlled by the receiving team.
These changes bring players closer together and reduce collision speeds, which directly lowers the risk of injuries.
Safety and game dynamics
Kickoffs have long been considered one of the most dangerous phases of a game: according to the NFL, they were responsible for a significantly higher number of concussions than other plays.
Since the changes were implemented, the league has noted early, measurable results.
In January the NFL released data for the 2024 season, which show a significant decrease in injuries related to concussions and hits during opening plays of the game.
As designed, the new rule reduced players’ average speed and overall injury rate – approximately 43% compared with the 2021–2023 seasons.
«We are glad to see that the ongoing focus on injuries is paying off, and as always we will use these data to inform and further strengthen our approach to injury prevention in the offseason».
Together with increased safety, the new kickoff format adds dynamism: in the 2024 regular season, the number of returns increased by 57%, and seven opening kickoffs ended in touchdowns – the highest level since 2021.
Players are still adapting to the new scheme. For instance, Caleb Johnson of the Pittsburgh Steelers made a mistake by not stopping the ball in the end zone, which allowed the Seattle Seahawks to score a touchdown on Sunday. Despite some vulnerable moments, it seems the new rule will become part of the NFL’s regulations in the long term.
«This rule looks ridiculous,» Donald Trump wrote, urging the NFL to scrap it, and added that it is «no less dangerous» than the old version, despite NFL statistics.
«We are glad to see that the ongoing focus on injuries is paying off, and as always we will use these data to inform and further strengthen our approach to injury prevention in the offseason».
