Opposition to new NFL rule puts rule change at risk

On3 imageby:Barkley Truax05/21/23

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NFL team owners will reportedly not follow through with the latest rule change involving special teams, per SI’s Albert Breer. A “strong opposition” has broken out among special team coaches and players in recent days.

The rules proposal would have changed the spot of the football during fair catches on special teams plays called inside the 25-yard-line. The rule has already been adapted into college football and says that any fair catch inside the 25-yard-line is spotted at the 25-yard-line.

Breer says this topic was widely discussed during the regularly-scheduled special teams coaches’ conference call last week. Some “respected veteran” special teams captains joined the call as well and even suggested that one special teams veteran from each NFL team should come together in opposition to the rule.

This led to a special teams player-led conference call that included at least 34 NFL players (at least one from each team), per report, and had NFLPA officials on the call as well.

The conclusion both parties drew was that the rule does little to combat head-related injuries — and could potentially lead to even more injuries as well. Some of them went as far as compiling data on the matter that has since been shared with the NFL in an attempt to prove their point.

Breer says that NFL head coaches that are on board with the opposition are Baltimore Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh, the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick, Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell and the Denver Broncos Sean Payton. Harbaugh went as far as traveling to the NFL Films campus in New Jersey for a more extensive look into the matter.

“As the coaches see it, would lead to more chaotic, unsettled situations and the kind of ugly football that creates higher-risk situations that would lead to players getting injured,” Breer wrote.

The proposal, which was suggested by the NFL’s competition committee, was in response to the increase in concussions sustained on kickoffs. In the last three seasons alone, 43 NFL players were injured on special teams plays — including 19 last year. In 2022, nearly 2,700 kickoffs ensued during the 2023 NFL season, meaning 99.3 percent of the time, a kickoff finishes concussion-free.

When team owners left the March meetings, it seemed as though the kickoff rule would be a done deal at this point. NFL brass will come together in Minneapolis, MN for the spring league meetings beginning May 22 through May 24.