NFL’s Troy Vincent Supports Kickoff Rule Change: ‘It Became a Ceremonial Play’

Andrew PetersFebruary 27, 2024

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NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent supports a rule change for kickoffs, per NFL.com’s Judy Battista.

According to Battista, Vincent said there is “no question” there will be a proposal to change the current rules and format of kickoffs, saying that there needs to be something done after how last season’s kickoffs went.

“We know we won’t go back into what we saw last year, when it became a ceremonial play,” Vincent said.

The current format lines the kicking team up at their 35-yard line with eight returning team members within 15 yards, prevents double-blocks and places touchbacks at the 25-yard line. There was also a one-year rule change approved ahead of the season that allowed returners to call fair catch on any ball kicked past the 25-yard line and get possession at their own 25.

That rule change was put in place in the name of player safety, but it also led to a significant drop in fielded returns. Just 22 percent of kickoffs were returned last season and none of the 13 kickoffs in the Super Bowl yielded returns.

Vincent is looking for a change, and the league could take inspiration from the XFL. According to Battista, the Competition Committee discussed the XFL kickoff at length and there could be a proposal for a March vote on adopting a version of the XFL kickoff model.

In the XFL, the kicker lines up at his team’s 30-yard line with the 10 other members of the kickoff team lining up at the opponent’s 35. The kicker and the returner are the only players who can move until the ball is fielded, and the touchbacks are brought out to the 35-yard line. The model still embraces player safety while also leading to more returns.

While it’s not clear if the NFL will shift its kickoff model next season, Vincent is certainly rooting for a change.