dynamic kickoffs - will they last? (The Athletic)

[dave mcbride]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798426/2025/11/12/kickoff-returns-concussions-injuries-nfl/

 

"But the rate of concussions per 100 kickoffs through seven weeks rose from 0.09 in 2024 to 1.18 this season, according to internal league data that was shared with teams and viewed by The Athletic. The concussion rate per 100 kickoff returns climbed to 1.48 through seven weeks, compared to 0.29 last season. The data shared with clubs indicated that it is roughly five times the league’s baseline concussion rate on run or pass plays."

[BearNorth]

Is it time to go to the basketball model, other team gets possession after a score. up to your defense to stop them.

[zow2]

It's just weird seeing college football (and even high school) still use traditional kickoffs, and the NFL has instituted this wacky XFL play.  I'm not saying it's wrong, just strange.  I've seen several KO returners get lit up this season.  The collisions with the returners are still bone crunching. Maybe it leads to fewer hard collisions between blockers.

[T.E.]

4 minutes ago, zow2 said:

It's just weird seeing college football (and even high school) still use traditional kickoffs, and the NFL has instituted this wacky XFL play.  I'm not saying it's wrong, just strange.

It's bizarre, and it's not because of player safety either. If they cared about that, we wouldn't have 17-game schedules, Thursday Night Football, or regular season games in places like Brazil and Germany.

 

Combine the goofy kickoff with allowing the placekickers to use different balls so that they can make 70-yard FGs, and you're looking at (what I believe is) a perversion of the game.

[Mikie2times]

It is in the games DNA to light somebody up. The more likely players are to either A) increase speed or B) reduce awareness of being hit, the higher the risks. Really not surprised here. 

8 minutes ago, T.E. said:

It's bizarre, and it's not because of player safety either. If they cared about that, we wouldn't have 17-game schedules, Thursday Night Football, or regular season games in places like Brazil and Germany.

 

Combine the goofy kickoff with allowing the placekickers to use different balls so that they can make 70-yard FGs, and you're looking at (what I believe is) a perversion of the game.

Certainly more about the perception of player safety than actual player safety. I don't think the NFL gives a F, but they care about people thinking they do. 

[The Frankish Reich]

3 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6798426/2025/11/12/kickoff-returns-concussions-injuries-nfl/

 

"But the rate of concussions per 100 kickoffs through seven weeks rose from 0.09 in 2024 to 1.18 this season, according to internal league data that was shared with teams and viewed by The Athletic. The concussion rate per 100 kickoff returns climbed to 1.48 through seven weeks, compared to 0.29 last season. The data shared with clubs indicated that it is roughly five times the league’s baseline concussion rate on run or pass plays."

I haven't read the article yet, but I would assume the starting point is this: a large, large percentage of pre-dynamic kickoffs were touchbacks into/through the end zone with almost zero concussions.

The league got what it wanted - more returns. But with more returns come more collisions. Probably fewer grisly knockout type concussions, but more than with a kick through the end zone.

 

After watching this for a while now, I think I'd like to just have the receiving team have the option of getting the ball at the 35 or having the kicking team kickoff with the new rules. Unless a team is trailing late it's likely to just take the 35, meaning zero injuries. But if you are trailing late, you get the option of trying for the big return.

[dave mcbride]

1 minute ago, The Frankish Reich said:

I haven't read the article yet, but I would assume the starting point is this: a large, large percentage of pre-dynamic kickoffs were touchbacks into/through the end zone with almost zero concussions.

The league got what it wanted - more returns. But with more returns come more collisions. Probably fewer grisly knockout type concussions, but more than with a kick through the end zone.

Yes, all true, but the kicker for me is that on a percentage basis, the new kickoffs have five times the rate of concussions as regular scrimmage plays. Players aren't sprinting 40 yards down the field anymore, but they're sprinting 7-12 yards before contact and can build up a full head of steam in that window. 

[Simon]

5 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Yes, all true, but the kicker for me is that on a percentage basis, the new kickoffs have five times the rate of concussions as regular scrimmage plays.

 

Do you happen to know how that rate compares to traditional kickoffs?

[The Frankish Reich]

9 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Yes, all true, but the kicker for me is that on a percentage basis, the new kickoffs have five times the rate of concussions as regular scrimmage plays. Players aren't sprinting 40 yards down the field anymore, but they're sprinting 7-12 yards before contact and can build up a full head of steam in that window. 

You're right, but i'm not sure there are many other plays in a game where players collide with each other head-on at 7-12 yards. It's still inherently more dangerous than plays where guys are changing directions, hitting each other across the line of scrimmage, or hitting at an angle.

[BearNorth]

7 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

You're right, but i'm not sure there are many other plays in a game where players collide with each other head-on at 7-12 yards. It's still inherently more dangerous than plays where guys are changing directions, hitting each other across the line of scrimmage, or hitting at an angle.

Um - Derrick Henry [250# 4.5 40] usually has a 7 yard head of steam rolling from the backfield before he gets to the LOS. Tackling him in the open field is a business decision for a 190# DB.

[dave mcbride]

16 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Do you happen to know how that rate compares to traditional kickoffs?

I don’t know. I am guessing data is out there, but there is a lot of it given how long that format lasted.

[Yobogoya!]

Of course it went up. Basically no one returned kickoffs last year which is why they changed the rules- so that there was actually potential for a play to happen again. Not a lot of guys are getting concussed on a play that doesn't happen. Maybe Kevin Kolb? 

 

I'm not sure if you can have it both ways. A kickoff is by its nature a play that encompasses the whole field, and guys are going to run fast, run hard and inevitably collide no matter how you slice it. 

 

Just make the *****-helmet mandatory for all special teamers and hope for the best. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

It's just weird seeing college football (and even high school) still use traditional kickoffs, and the NFL has instituted this wacky XFL play.  I'm not saying it's wrong, just strange.  I've seen several KO returners get lit up this season.  The collisions with the returners are still bone crunching. Maybe it leads to fewer hard collisions between blockers.

I still physically cringe  on kick return tackles. Kevin Everett flashbacks i guess 

Edited 16 hours ago by ChronicAndKnuckles

[bmur66]

I think it is weird watching them stand there with their skirts over their heads until the ball is caught.

[SinceThe70s]

I appreciate the NFL's attempts at retaining the kickoff as an actual play. College kickoffs have become insufferable and pointless with too many resulting in touchbacks. The kickoff has always been an iconic part of the sport and I'll miss it if/when it's gone but it feels more like when than if.

[boyst]

All of this is amazing and needs to be studied but the purity of the game is gone when you can't surprise onside kick anymore. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

I've kind of gotten used to the new kick off rules. Doesn't really bother me.

 

I also won't be shocked when the big brains of the NFL come up with something like, well less players on kickoffs equals less chance of injury....so kickoffs are now 7 on 7.

 

Honestly, I get safety, but if the really wanna fix kickoffs....stop with the flags on every dang return.

[T.E.]

8 minutes ago, boyst said:

All of this is amazing and needs to be studied but the purity of the game is gone when you can't surprise onside kick anymore. 

Love the conspiracy theory that suggests that rule was put into place to give the refs more control to manipulate the final point totals for gambling purposes. It's completely ridiculous but just reasonable enough to entertain it.

[ProcessTruster]

8 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I've kind of gotten used to the new kick off rules. Doesn't really bother me.

 

I also won't be shocked when the big brains of the NFL come up with something like, well less players on kickoffs equals less chance of injury....so kickoffs are now 7 on 7.

 

Honestly, I get safety, but if the really wanna fix kickoffs....stop with the flags on every dang return.

hmm.. that just might get some traction.. the 7 on 7 or 8 on 8 thing... NFL brains are like that

[Augie]

15 hours ago, zow2 said:

It's just weird seeing college football (and even high school) still use traditional kickoffs, and the NFL has instituted this wacky XFL play.  I'm not saying it's wrong, just strange.  I've seen several KO returners get lit up this season.  The collisions with the returners are still bone crunching. Maybe it leads to fewer hard collisions between blockers.

 

I’ll go ahead and say it, the current kickoffs are an ugly thing to watch. It’s even more pronounced in the stadium when the ugly baby isn’t masked by the television coverage not showing much of the kicker back there by himself looking like the Maytag Repairman. It’s not directly about safety, it’s all about not having to fork over more money in lawsuits. 

 

I prefer the college and high school kickoffs, and I’m starting to lean more toward their games overall.