Why did the NFL change its kickoff rules? Explaining league's reasoning for new special teams format

The NFL has implemented a new kickoff format for the 2024 season.

Gone are the days of booming 70-yard kicks out of the end zone for a touchback to start every game.

In an attempt to make kickoffs more entertaining — and safe — the NFL made some major rule changes to the special teams play. Here's why.

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Why did the NFL change its kickoff rules?

The NFL changed the kickoff rules for two reasons: entertainment and player safety.

"To address the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season and an unacceptable injury rate on kickoffs prior to that, NFL clubs have approved a new kickoff rule for the 2024 season," the headline states on the NFL's official operations page explaining the new rule.

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The website also added, 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.

Kickoffs became obsolete with the rule changes to prevent full-speed collisions over the past few seasons.

The new kickoff rule hopes to increase the frequency of kick returns while decreasing the number of dangerous collisions by lining up the kick team gunners and kick return team blockers closer together.

You can watch a video of the new kickoff in live preseason action below.

If you aren't caught up on the NFL's new kickoff rules, you can find a breakdown from The Sporting News' Jacob Camenker here.