Although the original kickoff rule has been in place for decades, the NFL’s safety team has changed it to keep players safe. The rule has been adapted from the XFL, which has been following this rule for the past two years. In the 2023 season, there were over 52 ACL tears, making football one of the most dangerously ranked sports.

Some may like the new rule, out of respect to keep the players safe, but why change something that has been learned and taught for years before? Every player knows the consequences and the chances of getting hurt when they first start playing.

There are 19 men lined up, 10 for the kicking team and nine for the returning and two return men by the endzone. If the kickoff lands in the endzone, it still results in a touchback. However, instead of the 25-yard line, as it was in previous years, the offense starts its drive on the 30-yard line.As the logic of the rules makes sense, it is safer to start closer to the lineman rather than getting charged at full speed and colliding into each other. Essentially, the new rule is getting rid of that running start the defenders used to have to tackle the receiving player.

Another reason why most fans are annoyed with the new rule is, college football teams don’t do that, so why do the professionals? If it is such a big deal about player safety, shouldn’t the NCAA be the first to try it out? These men have been playing football for most of their lives and now all the sudden the rules get changed. This has made fans aggravated and most all agree on one topic: “Just let them play the game.”

In the end, I strongly believe that the new kickoff rule is unnecessary and useless. The players know what they signed up for and should be ready to take the consequences as it is a contact sport. Why fix something that doesn’t need fixing? The rule from the past decades was set in stone for a reason. Why change it?

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