The NFL recently implemented a new kickoff format in an effort to reduce injuries and make the game safer. The rule, which was initially tested in the 2024 season, changed one of the most iconic plays in American football and sparked intense reactions, including new criticism from US President Donald Trump.
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A kickoff is the initial kick in American football, used to start the game and restart after goals have been scored, to determine where the opposing team will begin possession of the ball.
Under the new system, the kicking team continues to start play at the 35-yard line, but now all players except the kicker must line up at the opposing team’s 40-yard line, with one foot planted on the ground until the ball touches the ground or is touched by a receiver inside the 20-yard line.
The change aims to reduce the impact of collisions, which previously occurred at high speed, as two rows of players ran towards each other. The new dynamic keeps athletes closer together and reduces the moment of impact, reducing the risk of concussions.
Additionally, any kick that lands in the landing zone (between the 20-yard line and the end zone) must be returned, while kicks that land below that zone must result in a ricochet and place the ball on the 40-yard line. The receiving team can control which kicks reach the end zone or are returned.
According to data released by the NFL, in February 2025, the new format reduced concussions by 43% in the last two seasons and increased the number of returns by 57% during the 2024 regular season. Seven kickoffs were returned for touchdowns, the highest number since 2021.
Ken Nwangwu #34 of the New York Jets returns a kickoff for a touchdown
Trump criticizes
Despite the positive results, the new format did not satisfy everyone. During an appearance on the American program ESPN, President Donald Trump once again attacked this rule, describing it as “terrible” and “insulting” to the game.
“I hate the start of the game,” Trump said, over the broadcaster’s protests. He added: “I think it hurts the show. I already said that to Roger Goodell and I don’t think it’s any safer. There are still players fighting, and now no one moves when the ball is in the air. This is not American football.”
Trump also compared the new format to a loss of the sport’s essence: “The power of a kickoff is a beautiful thing. The game has been mischaracterized. I hope college football doesn’t change, and one day the NFL returns to real American football.”
The association, in turn, confirms that the current model combines safety and emotion, with the aim of preserving the spectacle, without compromising the health of the athletes.
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