NFL's New Kickoff Rules: Chiefs and Steelers Consider Non-Kickers for Duties, Increasing Excitement and Plays on Field

Kansas City, Missouri United States of America
Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers consider using non-kickers for kickoff duties
New rules emphasize spacing and tackling, increase potential plays on field
NFL implements new kickoff rules for 2024 season
NFL's New Kickoff Rules: Chiefs and Steelers Consider Non-Kickers for Duties, Increasing Excitement and Plays on Field

The National Football League (NFL) has implemented new rules for kickoffs in the 2024 season, aiming to increase returns and add more excitement to the game. These changes have led some teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, to consider using non-kickers for kickoff duties due to their ability to execute the new rule effectively and make tackles as coverage players.

Under the new rules, coverage players line up close to the return unit and cannot move forward until the ball is fielded. This makes hangtime irrelevant and emphasizes spacing and tackling. If a team kicks the ball out of bounds or outside of the landing zone, they are subject to a penalty, giving the opposing team possession at their 40-yard line.

The Chiefs have been preparing for this change by trying to get the ball on the ground away from returners as quickly as possible. Safety Justin Reid and running back Louis Rees-Zammit have been practicing kickoffs in place of Harrison Butker, who is known for his tackling abilities but may not be ideal for making multiple tackles throughout the season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, another team that has been aggressive in preparing for the new rules, signed Cordarrelle Patterson as their return specialist shortly after the new rules were approved. However, some teams are exploring more radical departures from NFL norms by considering using non-kickers to kick off.

The Chiefs' special teams coordinator, Dave Toub, explained that kickers are involved in approximately 25 to 40 percent of tackles based on the XFL experience. He doesn't want Butker making tackles all year long and would prefer having a better tackler in on the play if possible.

The new rules have created more jobs, as teams now need players who can execute the new kickoff and make tackles. The Steelers, for example, may consider using non-placekickers for these duties due to their ability to contribute both on offense and defense.

These changes are expected to result in a significant increase in actual football plays during games. Last season, there were 1970 touchbacks throughout the 17-game season. With the new rules, there could be up to 1600 more plays per season. Fans are excited about this radical difference and the potential for more action on the field.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

98%

  • Unique Points
    • NFL will implement a new rule for kickoffs in the 2024 season aimed at increasing returns.
    • Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Dave Toub of the Kansas City Chiefs is excited about the change.
    • Last year, there were 1970 touchbacks throughout a 17-game season. Now, there could be up to 1600 more actual football plays.
    • Chiefs are preparing for the new rule by trying to get the ball on the ground away from returners as quickly as possible.
    • Safety Justin Reid may rotate in on kicking duties, allowing him to make tackles and potentially replace Harrison Butker on most kickoffs.
    • Former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit is also being considered for kickoff duties due to his ability to move the ball and make tackles.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    There are no clear formal fallacies in the article. However, there is an appeal to authority and a slight exaggeration in the description of the new kickoff rules' impact on gameplay.
    • The most significant rules change to the NFL will be seen the moment the new season begins.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • The Kansas City Chiefs are considering removing Harrison Butker from kickoff duties due to new NFL rules.
    • , New NFL rules dictate that any ball kicked into the ‘landing zone’ from the goal line to the 20-yard line must be returned, no more fair catches.
    • Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub noted that their strategy will be to get the ball on the ground away from the opponent’s kick returner, allowing defenders to pursue before someone picks up the ball.
    • Safety Justin Reid may rotate in on kicking duties, allowing him to make tackles and potentially replace Harrison Butker on most kickoffs.
    • Reid filled in at kicker during Kansas City’s Week 1 game versus the Arizona Cardinals for seven kickoffs (with five touchbacks) and two extra points.
    • Toub added that Reid’s presence on the field is an extra guy that opposing teams have to worry about, requiring them to give up blocking someone else.
  • Accuracy
    • New NFL rules dictate that any ball kicked into the 'landing zone' from the goal line to the 20-yard line must be returned, no more fair catches.
    • Creating more action with actual returns could put kickers in a position where they have to tackle during a kickoff return.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

81%

  • Unique Points
    • The Pittsburgh Steelers have been aggressive in preparing for the new kickoff rules, signing Cordarrelle Patterson as their return specialist shortly after the new rules were approved.
    • "The skill set required for the new kickoff is different," &>Under the new rules, coverage players line up close to the return unit and can't move forward until the ball is fielded. This makes hangtime irrelevant and emphasizes spacing and tackling.</p>
    • If a team kicks the ball out of bounds or outside of the landing zone under these new rules, they are subject to a penalty, giving the opposing team the ball at the 40-yard line.
    • "Non-placekickers may begin earning roster spots because of their ability to execute the new kickoff," &>as they are also active coverage players and not just adding an additional specialist position.ҋ
  • Accuracy
    • Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub revealed that they are exploring using non-kickers to perform kickoffs due to the different skill set required for the new kickoff rule.
  • Deception (10%)
    The author makes several statements that imply deception through selective reporting and editorializing. He focuses on the potential of teams using non-kickers to perform kickoffs under the new rules, while downplaying the risks and challenges associated with this approach. The author quotes Dave Toub making statements about how having a strong tackler as an 11th player on the coverage unit is beneficial, but he fails to mention that this comes at the cost of having a less accurate kicker. The author also implies that asking Chris Boswell, the Steelers' placekicker, to make a few tackles per season increases injury risk without providing any evidence for this claim. Additionally, the author makes several statements about potential future implications of the rule change without disclosing that these are speculative and not based on fact.
    • Asking him to make a few tackles per season–or attempt to do so–only increases the injury risk.
    • The reasoning is simple enough: the skill set required to deliver the new kickoff is different. And it’s now much more beneficial to have that 11th player on the coverage unit as a strong tackler.
    • We’ll probably see a lot of different approaches throughout the season as teams try to figure out what works.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Justin Reid of the Chiefs is being considered as a kickoff specialist due to his tackling abilities.
    • Reid can make tackles and is an extra guy opposing teams have to account for in kick coverage.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The new NFL kickoff format has coaches considering unconventional roles for their players.[
    • Safety Justin Reid may rotate in on kicking duties, allowing him to make tackles and potentially replace Harrison Butker on most kickoffs.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub suggested not using kicker Harrison Butker for kickoff duties due to the new rules.
    • Safety Justin Reid may rotate in on kicking duties, allowing him to make tackles and potentially replace Harrison Butker on most kickoffs.
    • Toub mentioned that his concern is that kickers could be more involved in tackling this season, potentially putting Butker in harm’s way.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The Chiefs are considering not using Harrison Butker for kickoff duties due to new rules[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication