From Leather Helmets To Modern Rules: The Games’ Changed

When the NFL resumes play, one of the latest rules changes will be readily apparent from the beginning of the first game of the season. The kickoff will be moved forward from the defending team’s thirty yard line to the thirty-five. As with most rules changes a balance has been struck between providing an entertaining game and the safety of the players. The kickoff is the one play where players on both offense and defense are moving at full speed by the time they collide downfield, and while the exciting possibility of a long return is always present, the possibility of injury, perhaps career ending is also present as huge bodies careen into and off of each other.
The rules committee with an eye to not eliminating the return, but in reducing the risk, has determined that moving the kickoff to the thirty five is the best way to achieve this. The reasoning is that more kickoffs will go into or through the end zone resulting in a touchback. This will of course have an effect on both offensive and defensive strategies as teams will need to respond to the variables this new rule change will introduce. The lesson is that football both during an actual game and in it’s rules, is ever adaptable.