Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott (4) makes a field goal against the Washington Commanders during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field.
Ahead of the 2024 season, the NFL made a drastic change to its kickoff rules aimed at increasing the safety of the play and decreasing significant injuries.
Through two-plus seasons, it’s hard to say whether the changes, which were later tweaked, have worked in achieving their ultimate goal, but they have led to an increase in the number of kick returns.
However, as soon as the NFL changes a rule, teams immediately get to work to find ways to try to exploit that rule. That was no different this time around, and the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be leading the way.
Smart loophole? #Eagles had holder Braden Mann on the field as a 12th man for all but one of Jake Elliott’s kickoffs last week.
It’s legal under the new kickoff rules, as long as the holder runs off the field after the kick. In this case, it wasn’t because of wind. It was to… pic.twitter.com/JFU1Z7lH9f
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 24, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles Find Clever Way To Make Kick Returns More Difficult
Under the old kickoff rules, if the game was extremely windy, one of the 10 kick coverage players would hold the ball on the kicking tee so that it wouldn’t fall off before taking off downfield.
However, under the new rules, the kick coverage team is nowhere near the kicker. So teams are now allowed to have a 12th player on the field to hold the ball. But that player must immediately exit the field following the hold.
On Sunday against the Titans, the Eagles had punter (and field goal holder) Braden Mann hold the ball during kickoffs. But it wasn’t windy in Nashville. So, what gives?
Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay explained.
“I watch every (special teams) snap of the NFL on Mondays,” Clay told reporters. “I’m watching all around the league just to see the flavor of the week, what’s going on around the league, things like maybe implementing the game plan for our next opponent,” Clay said. “I think it’s probably about 3, 3 1/2 hours, but you’re watching football. I could be doing way worse things in my life than that.”
Clay pointed out that in Week 1, the Atlanta Falcons used a holder to change the angle of the ball during kickoffs. The Eagles immediately got to work.
“It just gave us a different opportunity, a different launch angle, and they executed pretty well in terms of Jake and Braden Mann holding on that,” Clay said. “We’re always looking for ways to help the team in any way we possibly can. It’s a different technique, and we’ll see if we keep using that as the year goes on.”
By changing the angle of the ball, Philadelphia can control the way Elliott kicks it. The move led to the ball bouncing awkwardly in front of the Titans’ returner, making it difficult for him to field cleanly and begin to run.
Was that the intent of the holder rule? No. But is it a clever way to use it? Absolutely. And you can expect more teams to follow suit in the immediate future.