What Yard Line Does NFL Kickoff From?

The NFL kickoff starts at the 35-yard line and goes to the opposing team.

The History of the NFL Kickoff

The NFL kickoff has been moved several times throughout the history of the league in an effort to increase touchbacks and make the play safer. The current yard line for the NFL kickoff is the 35-yard line, which was moved from the 30-yard line in 2016. Let’s take a look at the history of the NFL kickoff and how it has changed over the years.

The Early Years: From the 20-Yard Line to the 35-Yard Line

The National Football League (NFL) kickoff has undergone several rule changes since its inception in 1920, when it was introduced as a way to start the game. The kickoff yard line has changed several times over the years, as have the number of players required to be on the field, the number of downs, and other aspects of the play.

In the early years of the NFL, the kickoff was from the 20-yard line. In 1934, it was moved to the 35-yard line. This change was made in order to reduce the number of injuries on kickoffs. In 1940, the NFL experimented with a rule change that would have moved the kickoff back to the 30-yard line, but it was never implemented.

In 2011, another major rule change was made to further reduce injuries on kickoffs. The ruling stated that no more than two players could have a running start before the ball was kicked. This rule change effectively eliminated all blocks below the waist on kickoffs.

Despite these changes, injuries on kickoffs are still relatively common. In 2019, there were 18 reported concussions on kickoffs in the NFL. As a result, some have called for even more changes to be made to further reduce injuries. One proposal is to move the kickoff yard line back to where it was in 1940: the 30-yard line.

The Move to the 40-Yard Line

In the NFL, the kickoff has been moved several times over the years in an effort to improve player safety. In 1974, it was moved from the 40-yard line to the 35-yard line. In 1994, it was moved back to the 30-yard line. In 2011, it was moved up five yards to the 35-yard line again. And finally, in 2016, it was moved back to the 30-yard line where it currently remains.

The most recent change was made with player safety in mind. By kicking off from the 30-yard line, touchbacks will occur more often. This means that there will be fewer opportunities for returners to be tackled inside their own 20-yard line, which is a particularly dangerous position on the field.

In addition to moving the kickoff spot, several other changes have been made to the NFL’s kickoff rules in recent years. In 2009, a rule was implemented that allows the receiving team to fair catch a kickoff inside their own 10-yard line and have it result in a touchback. This rule was designed to discourage teams from attempting long returns when they are backed up near their own end zone.

In 2018, another rule change was made that allows teams to elect not to have a kick returner on the field for a kickoff. This is often done when a team is trailing late in a game and they want to avoid any potential turnovers on a kickoff return.

The history of the NFL kickoff is one of constant change and evolution. As player safety continues to be a paramount concern for the league, it’s likely that we will see further changes to the rules governing kickoffs in the future

Why the NFL Changed the Kickoff Rule

In the NFL, the kickoff rule has been changed for the 2018 season. The new rule is that the ball will be placed at the 25 yard line instead of the 20 yard line. This is a change that has been made in order to try and make the game safer.

Player Safety

In an effort to improve player safety, the NFL has moved the kickoff line up 5 yards, from the 35-yard line to the 40-yard line, for the upcoming 2018 season.

This change is being made in order to encourage more touchbacks, as kickers will now have less of an incentive to kick the ball deep into opposing team territory. In theory, this should lead to fewer kickoff returns, which are often some of the most dangerous plays in football.

There have been a number of rule changes made over the years aimed at improving player safety on kickoffs, including banning wedges of more than two players and eliminating running starts by the kicking team. Moving the kickoff line up 5 yards is just the latest in a long line of such changes.

More Touchbacks, Fewer Exciting Plays

In the NFL, the kickoff rule has changed several times over the years. The main reason for these changes has been player safety. In 2012, the NFL moved the kickoff line up 5 yards to the 35-yard line in order to encourage more touchbacks and reduce the number of high-speed collisions that were occurring on kickoffs.

The results of this change were immediate. In 2011, there were 1,132 kickoffs that were returned for touchdowns or went out of bounds in the end zone. In 2012, that number dropped to just 994. And in 2013, it fell again to only 891.

The number of touchbacks also rose sharply. In 2011, there were 2, 409 touchbacks on kickoffs. In 2012, that number jumped to 3,615. And in 2013, it reached an all-time high of 4,244.

While these changes did result in fewer injuries on kickoffs, they also made the plays much less exciting. In an effort to address this issue, the NFL tweaked the rule again for the 2018 season. Now, if a team kicks the ball through the end zone or out of bounds on a touchback, they will get the ball at their own 25-yard line instead of at the 20.

The hope is that this will lead to more returns and more exciting plays while still keeping players safe. Time will tell if it works as intended or if further changes will be necessary in the future.

How the New Rule Has Changed the Game

The NFL has changed the rules regarding kickoff this season. They have moved the kickoff line up to the 35 yard line, which has had a major impact on the game. This has made the game more exciting, and has also resulted in more touchbacks.

More Touchbacks

In the past few seasons, there have been an increasing number of touchbacks in the NFL. This is due to a rule change that moved the kickoff line from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line in order to promote player safety. The result has been more touchbacks, which are when the ball is downed in the end zone and the team automatically gets the ball on their own 20-yard line.

While this rule change was made with player safety in mind, it has had some unintended consequences. One of these is that it has made it difficult for teams to mount comebacks from behind because they are not getting as many opportunities to return kicks. This is especially true in close games where a team might need a big return to swing momentum in their favor.

Another consequence of the rule change is that it has made kickingoffs less exciting. This is because there are fewer returns and thus less action for fans to watch. Many fans have complained that the new rule has made kickoffs boring and are hoping for a change back to the old rules.

Do you think touchbacks are a good or bad thing for the NFL? Do you think the rule should be changed back?

Fewer Returns

In the NFL, the rules for kickoffs have been tweaked several times in recent years, with an eye towards player safety. In 2018, the rule changes resulted in even fewer returns, as touchbacks increased from 46.5% of all kickoffs in 2017 to 61.6% in 2018. The average length of a kickoff return also decreased, from 22.1 yards in 2017 to 21.4 yards in 2018.

There are a few reasons for the decline in kickoff returns. One is simply that teams are kicking the ball deeper into their opponent’s end zone, resulting in moretouchbacks. Another is that teams are employing “squib kicks” more often, which are short kicks that are designed to make it difficult for the return team to get set up and make a return.

With fewer returns comes fewer big plays on special teams. In 2017, there were 24 kickoff return TDs; in 2018, there were just 13. That’s a decline of nearly half. There were also fewer big returns overall: 29 kicks returned for 40+ yards in 2017, compared to just 19 in 2018.

The new rule has definitely changed the game on kickoffs, and it doesn’t appear that the trend is going to reverse anytime soon.

The Impact on Field Position

When the NFL implemented the new rule, allowing teams to kick off from the 35-yard line instead of the 30, they did so with the hopes of creating more touchbacks and fewer dangerous return plays. The theory was that by making it five yards further for the kicker to boot the ball into the end zone, more would go for touchbacks, which would lead to fewer big returns. In addition, it wouldPin also lead to more conservative play-calling on special teams, as coaches would be more likely to simply take a touchback rather than try to return a kickoff deep into enemy territory.

What’s Next for the NFL Kickoff?

The 2018 season saw the NFL move the kickoff line up to the 35-yard line in an effort to increase touchbacks and decrease the number of returns. The result was a decrease in the number of returns, but also a decrease in the number of touchbacks. So what’s next for the NFL kickoff?

Moving the Kickoff Back to the 35-Yard Line

In an effort to increase touchbacks and reduce the number of plays with a running start, the NFL has experimented with moving the kickoff back to the 35-yard line.

This rule change was first tested during the 2011 preseason, then adopted for the 2012 season. In 2012, touchbacks increased by nearly 44% compared to 2011. The average number of yards run on a kick return decreased from 26.1 in 2011 to 23.8 in 2012.

The NFL has not yet committed to making this rule change permanent, but it is under consideration.

Eliminating the Kickoff Altogether

The kickoff has been one of the most exciting plays in football for years, but it has also been one of the most dangerous. In an effort to reduce the number of injuries on kickoffs, the NFL has been experimenting with alternatives to the traditional play.

One option that has been under consideration is eliminating the kickoff altogether. This would mean that after each score, the team would have the option of either starting their drive from their own 25-yard line or giving the other team possession at midfield.

Eliminating the kickoff would have a number of consequences, both good and bad. On the positive side, it would mean fewer injuries for players. It would also make the game shorter, as there would be fewer stoppages in play. On the downside, it would take away one of the most exciting plays in football.

At this point, it is unclear what direction the NFL will go with kickoffs. The league has said that they are committed to making the game safer for players, but it remains to be seen if they are willing to make such a radical change to one of its signature plays.