Getty Image / perry Knotts
Think back to Super Bowl XLIV between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. After a first half that saw the Colts take a 10-6 halftime lead, the New Orleans Saints shocked everyone with a surprise onside kick and recovery.
That play spurred New Orleans to a huge 2nd half en route to a 31-17 win. But, if a proposed NFL rule gets its way, that scenario will never happen again.
A new proposed rule would seek to ban surprise onside kicks. Along with other changes to kickoffs, the goal would be to see more kickoff returns while making kickoff returns, long deemed a dangerous play, safer.
Here’s more, courtesy of Tom Pelissero.
No surprises: The new kickoff rule crafted by NFL special teams coordinators would allow teams to attempt an onside kick only when trailing in the fourth quarter — and require them to declare it in advance, per sources.
Language still being finalized and owners must approve.
NFL special teams coordinators met Saturday at the combine. Other notes on their proposal …
Setup zone: The kick and return teams would line up on the receiving team’s 40- and 35-yard lines, respectively, and not leave until the ball is touched or reaches the “target zone” (20-yard line to goal line).
Touchbacks: If the ball is kicked into the end zone, the receiving team gets it at the 35. If the ball is kicked into the target zone and rolls into the end zone, the receiving team gets it at the 20.
If the kickoff team declares they’re attempting an onside kick, they potentially could be allowed to utilize an unbalanced (6×4) formation, raising odds of recovery. Just 5.2% were recovered in 2023 and there just two surprise onside kicks, thanks largely to run-ups being banned.Under new, health and safety-related rules in 2023, just 22% of kickoffs were returned, and none in the Super Bowl. The NFL tasked special teams coordinators with creating a rule that both increases return rates and delivers an acceptable injury rate. This is their proposal.
The hope for all parties is this new rule would make the kickoff game exciting again, eliminating the speed and space that might result in higher injury rates while incentivizing teams to put the ball in play. A vote could come at the NFL annual meeting March 24-27
I understand where special teams coordinators are coming from. Frankly, the kickoff has more-or-less been taken out of the game by kickers with bigger legs than ever, the kickoff being moved from the 35 to the 30, and touchbacks going from the 20 to the 25. But, surprise onside kicks are cool! Surely we can figure out how to do surprise onside kicks within the framework of getting exciting kickoff returns that are safe for players.