Getty Image / Perry Knotts
Over the years, the onside kick has become a tougher proposition for NFL teams as the league has moved to make the play safer in various ways. It’s going to be tougher than it’s ever been in this upcoming season.
With new kickoff rules completely changing normal kickoffs, there had to be corresponding changes to onside kicks, as surprise onside kicks would be untenable. And, the league has completely decided to get rid of surprise onside kicks for 2024.
In a move to increase the number of kickoff returns, a number that had fallen dramatically, the league instituted the following changes.
- The kick will occur from kicking team’s 35-yard-line
- The other ten players on the kicking team will line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard-line
- the receiving team will have at least seven players in the “set-up zone” between their own 30 and 35-yard lines.
- There is a landing zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line that the ball must be kicked into. A max of two kick returners can be in the landing zone.
- Once the ball is kicked, the kicker cannot cross the 50-yard line, and the other players on the kicking team cannot cross the 40-yard line until the ball is touched or lands in the landing zone. The receiving team’s players in the set-up zone can also not move until then.
- If the kick sails into the end zone, the receiving team will get the ball at the 30-yard line. If the kick is touched or hits short of the landing zone, the ball is brought out to the 40-yard line.
As you can see, you couldn’t really onside kick in this scenario, and a surprise onside kick is out of the question given the rules. So, the league has decided the following, which is making the rounds on Twitter on Monday.
With new NFL kickoff rules:
– Onside kicks are illegal before 4th quarter
– Team must be losing to kick an onside kick
– Team must announce intention to kick an onside kick ahead of time— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) July 29, 2024
To me, this is completely the wrong way to go about it. It’s been floated to let the kicking team try what would be a 4th and 15 play from their own 25-yard line to keep the ball. That would be much better than these new onside kick rules, and it’s not like the conversion rate would be high. Teams used to get around 20% of onside kicks before they made it so kicking teams didn’t get a running start and couldn’t load one side of the field with players. 4th and 15 is converted around 20% of the time.