The NFL completely changed its kickoff rules which ignores a greater safety issue while playing the game of football. The NFL once again makes bad decisions in the name of “player safety.”
Under the new format, both teams must wait for the returner to catch the ball before running at each other to block and make a tackle
This format was originally developed by the XFL, which is another competitive football league. The original focus of the league was to make football more interesting and violent. They are now moving towards a more “safe” environment for players which is what they are going for when it comes to this rule.
The NFL then decided to implement it in 2024 as a trial for a potential permanent rule change. Full-speed collisions during the original kickoff have raised corners about serious injuries, especially to the heads of players.
The new format can also be confusing for casual viewers, especially since the players aren’t totally acclimated to the change. The play now closely resembles a normal rushing play and can be confused with one instead of a special part of the game.
However, the issue at hand is that the NFL made it less interesting in an inherently violent sport. It seems like the NFL Player Health and Safety branch is sweeping the problems under the rug instead of putting money into other avenues.
While the rule does result in more balls being returned, most of the yards gained are much shorter than in the years in which the rule was implemented. According to the official NFL website, there has been a 10% increase in returns but there is a lack of breakaway runs that keep the fans engaged.
The rules that are being implemented by the NFL are causing defenders to create even more risky plays. The NFL continues to allow dangerous plays in the name of safety but fails to recognize the sport’s inherent danger.
Football is closer to a combat sport than a regular ball game with some contact and the risk of injuries will always remain high. The NFL has already banned the hip drop tackle, which is when a defender grabs the hips of a ball carrier and then drops to the floor. This type of tackle emerged with the somewhat ban of big hits and causes a significant amount of knee injuries to those who are tackled.
The issue is the NFL wants to get away from bigger hits resulting in head injuries which created that somewhat dirty way of tackling. Now we see defenders straight-diving at the knees of offensive players which is even worse.
The NFL generates billions of dollars a year and fails to invest in serious CTE research or create better helmets and padding for players. Instead, they change plays rather than tackling the problem at hand.
Soon we will all be watching flag football games so the NFL can continue to fill its bottom line without actually helping the players.
