NFL’s kickoff rule change nullifies main argument against tush push

Those against the tush push need a better argument.

On Tuesday, the NFL made a minor adjustment to its kickoff rules, and in doing so, nullified the main talking point coaches and owners have had against the short-yardage play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles.

At the 2025 owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., the league voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs up to the 35-yard line to increase the number of kickoff returns. 

Per ESPN NFL reporter Kevin Seifert, “The NFL has been projecting an increase in the return rate from ~33% in 2024 to between 60%-70% in 2025.”

With this touchback spot change, the NFL has been projecting an increase in the return rate from ~33% in 2024 to between 60%-70% in 2025. There are some downstream aspects that could come into play in terms of field position, scoring, game management when you add that many plays. https://t.co/Y9Ph9ZARKk

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 1, 2025

In 2024, the league implemented the “dynamic kickoff,” previously seen in spring football leagues such as the XFL and UFL.

The change, which saw players line up in a “landing zone” and be unable to move until the ball was caught or landed, was intended to increase the number of returns while decreasing the number of injuries.

That only partially came true. At the end of the 2024 season, Seifert noted that nearly a third of all kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Meanwhile, the injury rate on returns decreased to “the same on other plays from scrimmage,” Seifert wrote. 

Final regular season numbers on the new NFL kickoff rule:

Touchback rate: 64.3%
Return rate: 32.8%

Both were a notable improvement over 2023, but were worse than any other season since at least 2000. Much more work to do if the NFL still envisions kickoffs returned routinely.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 7, 2025

NFL said today that the injury rate on the new kickoff was the same as on other plays from scrimmage. Historically the injury rates on kickoffs has been 2-4 times that of all other plays. Concussion rate on kickoffs dropped 43%, per NFL’s Jeff Miller. https://t.co/FVDtVpKgdV

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 30, 2025

While the progress made on the injury front should be celebrated, it still means that injuries are as likely to happen on returns as on normal downs.

In a follow-up post, Seifert revealed players suffered eight concussions on kickoffs in 2024, the same as in 2023 but with a higher number of returns.

Concussion total on kickoffs in 2024 were the same as 2023 (8). But the RATE dropped in 2024 because there were more returns overall.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 30, 2025

Do you know which play had no concussions reported last year?

Do we even have to say it? Of course, it’s the tush push.

NFL injury data showed not only were no concussions reported on tush pushes in 2024, but the play had a 0 percent injury rate.

The league’s internal data on the tush push revealed there was a 0% injury rate on what is known as the Tush Push. There’s concern over the “potential” for injury, but to date, there have been no reported injuries from that play.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 26, 2025

So, for those scoring at home, some in the league are comfortable bending rules that will lead to more concussions, yet want to nix a play with a nonexistent injury rate. Make it make sense.

Later in the day, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that owners “tabled voting on … the tush push in order to have further discussions.”

Schefter added that on Sunday, the league “presented the injury risk of the push sneak based on data modeling.”

“My biggest concern is the health and safety of the players, first and foremost,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday.

“I think being responsible and proactive in that regard is the right way to go,” he added.

That’s a nice message, but it rings hollow with the league insisting on increasing the number of kickoff returns, plays known to cause injuries.

At least the NFL has a whole offseason to develop a better argument against the tush push. It’s going to need it.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans