New Dynamic Kickoff Rule Explainer

To create a new form of a free kick play that is designed to:

• Resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed.
• Promote more returns.

NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent Sr. hosted a roundtable discussion with Special Teams Coordinators and architects of the new Dynamic Kickoff rule, Darren Rizzi (New Orleans Saints), John Fassel (Dallas Cowboys), and Richard Hightower (Chicago Bears) to talk about the new rule, how teams are preparing for it ahead of the 2024 season and the reception by coaches and players.

Dynamic Kickoff Details

Hear New Orleans Saints Special Teams Coordinator, Darren Rizzi break down the new rule.

NFL clubs have approved a new kickoff rule for the 2024 season.

• The ball is kicked from the A35 yard line (same as current rule)
• Safety kicks would be from A20 yard line (same as current rule)

ALIGNMENT

• All kicking team players other than the kicker will line up with one foot on the receiving team’s B40 yard line
  • Kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line until ball touches the ground or player in landing zone or end zone
  • The 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or the end zone
  • Setup Zone – a 5-yard area from the B35 to the B30 yard line where at least 9 receiving team players must line up
    • At least 7 players with foot on the B35 yard line (restraining line) with alignment requirements (outside numbers, numbers to hashes, and inside hashes)
    • Players not on the restraining line must be lined up in setup zone outside the hash marks
    • All players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone

    LANDING ZONE

    • Landing zone is the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line.
    • Any kick that hits short of the landing zone – treated like kickoff out of bounds and ball spotted at B40 yard line; play would be blown dead as soon as kick lands short of the landing zone
    • Any kick that hits in the landing zone - must be returned
    • Any kick that hits in the landing zone and then goes into the end zone – must be returned or downed by receiving team – if downed then touchback to B20 yard line
    • Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds - returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line
    • Any kick that goes out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) – touchback to B30 yard line

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • If conditions cause ball to fall off tee twice, then kicker will be allowed to use kicking stick to keep the ball in place. The closest covering official will pick up the stick immediately after the kick
    • Onside kick:
      • 4th quarter begins, the team trailing has the opportunity to declare an onside kick to the officials
      • Current onside kickoff rules would apply. If onside kick goes beyond the setup zone untouched, kicking team penalized for UNS; return team would start the drive at the A20 yard line
      • The setup zone and landing zone will not change with any penalties that carry over to kickoffs. Alignment of 10 kickoff team players and all receiving team players would not change – only the spot of the kick would move
      • Penalties on scoring plays will not carry over and will be taken on the Try
      • Penalties on the Try may carry over, and if they do, only the placement of the kicker will change
      • The kick will be from the 20-yard line, and the kicker will have the option to use a tee; the setup zone and the landing zone will not change

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