‘I was so against it’ admits Travis Kelce before making dramatic U-turn on NFL’s new kickoff rule for 2024 season

THE 2024 NFL preseason has seemingly won over Travis Kelce to the league’s controversial new kickoff rules.

In order to address dwindling kick return rates and spiraling injuries, the NFL introduced a revamped kickoff concept for the upcoming season.

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The new rules will see the kicking team line up on their 35-yard line and the receiving team between their own 35 and 30-yard lines.

Only the kicker and returners can move before the ball lands, at which point the two lines can engage.

Also, if the ball fails to reach the landing zone between the 20-yard line and the end zone, the receiving team will start at their own 40.

If it sails into or past the end zone, they will start at the 30.

The announcement was met with mixed reactions prior to the preseason.

However, with the new rules having been played out throughout the summer, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis has changed his tune.

“I’m so excited for it. I think it’s fun,” Travis told his brother and former All-Pro center Jason on their New Heights podcast , before admitting, “I was so against it.”

“Honestly, it’s still electric. The guy with the ball is still hitting it as hard as he can.

“I saw a guy, and I’m not going to name a guy, but I saw a guy almost get his head ripped off.

“And it was a flag on us and I got so excited that I forgot whose team I was on.”

The possibilities for returners with the new kickoff rules were on full show in the third week of preseason games.

San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Isaac Guerendo found a gap down the left sideline against the Las Vegas Raiders and hit it hard.

He wound up returning it for 93 yards, only to be tackled out of bounds at the five-yard line.

This marked the longest return of the preseason.

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Guerendo’s return seemed to win over a fair few viewers, with many taking to X to share their enthusiasm for the new kickoff format.

“I love the new kick-off format [not gonna lie],” one tweeted.

“Great return, kick-off is back,” said a second.

“That’s going to happen a lot with this new kicking format,” predicted another.

While, by comparison, others took it as an opportunity to dig at the Raiders, such as one who claimed, “Tackling is worse than Madden 25.”

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