New changes could be coming to the NFL.
Over the years, the NFL has seen their concussion numbers fluctuate. They have seen the total number of concussion decline since having 192 regular season concussion in 2015 but had a significant increase last season (161) from their 135 in 2021 which was tied for a season low over the last 10 years.
To try an offset that, the NFL is turning to the XFL.
The new rebooted XFL came back with some very unique rules and one of them involves their kickoff rules. Instead of the regular kickoff that we see in the NFL and at every other level of football, the XFL has their kicker line up at his 30 yard line and the other 10 guys on the kickoff team line up at the opponents 35. That puts them 5 yards away from each other. No one can move, outside of the kicker and returner, until the ball is fielded.
Report: NFL is considering adopting the XFL’s kickoff style as a possible replacement for the kickoff format, according to Mike Floriopic.twitter.com/kMUbLXykJx
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 2, 2023
This is the new rule the NFL is thinking about implementing to offset the number of concussion accruing to PFT’s Mike Florio.
“The NFL is exploring XFL data regarding the play,” Mike Florio reported Wednesday. “The overriding goal is to reduce the potential for concussions … by shrinking the distance between opposing players. The XFL rule leaves only 5 yards of space for players to cover before contact, keeping them from getting to top speed.”
It’s an interesting concept and could theoretically lead to less concussions but we could also see the number of kickoff returns go up and that would definitely be interesting to see if teams would be interested in that.
