The possible onside kick, kickoff rule changes the NFL is considering

The NFL will take a look at a number of kickoff rule changes this offseason after the league was happy with the way the new kickoff rule worked in its first season in 2024. 

Among the ideas that would be looked at are giving teams possession of the ball at the 35-yard line instead of the 30 and moving the ball from the 30-yard line back five yards on kickoffs, NFL Competition Committee chairman and Falcons CEO Rich McKay told reporters.

The league is also looking to explore possible alternatives to the onside kick.

“If something is going to be proposed as far as modifications … which would be the potential of moving the touchback and/or moving the kicker back, I think those will get talked about, you know, within the next 30 days,” McKay said, according to the Washington Post. “But it’ll take a little while before we get everybody’s input.”

Any proposed rule change needs to be approved by 24 of the 32 teams in the NFL. 

The NFL’s competition committee could also examine a fourth-and-15 or fourth-and-20 alternative to the onside kick, which would allow teams to keep possession of the ball if they convert on such a play.