Bears are seeking to find a special teams advantage in new kickoff format: 'Imagination is going to take over'

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — The NFL will unveil a drastic rule change right from the start of each game in 2024 with a revamped kickoff play.

Back in March, the NFL’s competition committee approved the plan for a new kickoff format that will feature the kickoff coverage team lining up at its opponent’s 40-yard line and the return team situated between its own 30- and 35-yard line. Only the kicker will be in his customary position from his team’s 35-yard line, while the returners will continue to line up just shy of the end zone awaiting the kick.

The NFL’s goal is to revive the kickoff play after 77% of kickoffs in the 2023 resulted in touchbacks. Beyond that, the revised alignment for each team – which originated from the XFL – is believed to minimize injury risk for a play that previously had heightened danger.

At OTAs recently, Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower explained that he, head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles have studied and discussed how they can best utilize the new format to their advantage.

“We’re all on the same page on that,” Hightower said. “And it’s just going to be interesting because it’s all new. I mean, there are so many different forms of people that you can put out there. The imagination is going to take over. The creativity is going to take over, so it’s going to be fun, and we’re all excited about it. So, we’ve toyed around with a lot of different body types and techniques, and we’re using still some of the same type of techniques, but it’s just happening at a different point in the play. With the running start out, it’s happening a lot quicker, like it’s on you right now. And that’s what we’re realizing and going through. So, it’s been fun as heck.”

“I definitely think it elevates the importance (of special teams), and the reason why is we’re bringing more plays back into the game. We’re bringing more yardage into the game. It should help the drive start for the offense and the defense depending on how the play shakes out. I really think it heightens the importance of the players because now you’re going to have to keep a certain amount of players on your roster because you know you’re going to have eight to 10, maybe 12 more plays when you go kickoff/kickoff return and who knows what spins off of that. Those guys in our room right now are saying, ‘more plays, more opportunities,’ so they’re excited as hell about it.”

The Bears will host the Titans in their regular-season opener on Sept. 8 at Soldier Field.

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .