Kevin Seifert is an ESPN national NFL writer. In addition to covering the Minnesota Vikings and the rest of the NFL, he reports on an alarming spike in kickoff returns in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. With over 20 years of experience in covering the league, Seifert has witnessed various changes, but the latest adjustments to kickoff rules have generated significant interest among fans and analysts alike.
The NFL’s special teams coaches recommended a new approach for the 2024 season, which aimed to revitalize kickoff returns that had dwindled in previous years. Coaches are immersing themselves in a new – but proven – alignment first introduced in professional football by the XFL during its inaugural 2020 campaign. They hope to address the tragic trend of only 21.8% of kickoffs being returned in 2023. This 2021 statistic represents the lowest return rate since at least 2000. It might even be the least in the modern history of the game. In fact, Super Bowl LVIII at the conclusion of the 2023 season had zero kickoff returns. This omission reinforces the critical need for systemic change in the sport.
In turn, the NFL passed a new free agency-type prohibition rule that resulted in an amazing 1,296-game attendance in Week 1 of 2024. Teams only kicked the ball out of the end zone 38 times, leading to a return rate of 75.6%. This overall steep rise in kickoff returns is a clear sign of a positive adjustment to the new formation and regulations. Even with this improvement, the full-season return rate for 2024 only reached 32.8%. It fell tremendously short of the league’s lofty promises.
This is in contrast to the original proposal, which would have moved all touchbacks to the 35-yard line. In order to muster sufficient support from team owners to pass it in approval, it was scaled back to the 30-yard line. This seems to be a good compromise between improving the chances to make a return and keeping players safe.
Seifert’s analysis of this new world of NFL kickoff returns is a testament to his years of experience and success within the industry of sports journalism. He’s been with ESPN since 2008. Prior to that, he was a beat reporter with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. His commitment to covering the NFL comprehensively ensures that fans receive informed analyses about changes impacting gameplay.
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