NFL Kickoff Rule Change: Impact on Strategy and Kicking

For years, the NFL kickoff had become one of the most predictable plays in football—a momentary pause before a near-certain touchback that would place the ball safely on the 25-yard line. But the 2025 season marks a dramatic and strategic shift. The league has adopted a radical new kickoff format, and at its core is one game-changing detail: if a kick results in a touchback, the receiving team now gets the ball at the 35-yard line.

This single change is a direct challenge to the “power kicker” era. It’s designed to deincentivize booming the ball out of the end zone and to force a return, bringing excitement and strategy back to the play. This represents one of the biggest strategic adjustments for special teams in decades, and it’s forcing kickers and coaches to completely rethink their approach.

The Coach’s Perspective: A New Strategic Chess Match

For special teams coordinators, the new rule has turned the kickoff into a high-stakes chess match. The focus has shifted from pure power to a combination of placement, hangtime, and tactical deception, all in the service of avoiding that costly 35-yard line touchback.

New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has been a vocal proponent of the change, emphasizing the new strategic elements. “It brings the thinking part of it back into the game for us,” Rizzi said. “There’s a lot of strategy that’s going to be involved. It’s not just about kicking it deep anymore; it’s about where you put it to avoid giving them the ball at the 35.”

Similarly, Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub, one of the most respected in the league, highlighted the new importance of the kicker’s accuracy. “Your kicker now has to be a weapon of placement,” Toub explained. “We’re practicing different types of kicks—low drives, high floaters, kicks to the corner—because a touchback is no longer a win for the coverage team. The kicker’s ability to execute these different kicks will dictate our entire coverage scheme.”

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has also been a strong supporter of making the play more competitive, even suggesting the touchback should be more punitive to ensure teams are forced to kick the ball in play. “I feel like the 35 would give us what we initially did all this work for,” Payton said, indicating his belief that the rule is a step in the right direction to restoring the kickoff as a strategic and exciting play. Payton’s perspective is particularly interesting given that the Broncos have an All-Pro returner in Marvin Mims Jr., making them a team that could directly benefit from more return opportunities.

The Kicker’s View: From Power to Precision

For the kickers themselves, the new rule requires a significant adjustment in both mindset and training. The days of simply trying to kick the ball as far as possible are over.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker spoke about the need to add more tools to his arsenal. “It’s a different kind of kick now,” Butker said. “I’ve been working on a lot of different ball flights, trying to master a lower, driving kick that’s harder to handle, in addition to the traditional high kick for hangtime. You have to be able to do it all now to pin them deep and keep them away from the 35.”

Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the new importance of teamwork with the coverage unit. “My job is to put the ball in a spot that gives my guys the best chance to make a play inside the 25,” Koo said. “We’re constantly communicating about where we want the ball to land based on the look the return team is giving us. It’s much more of a collaborative play now.”

The Future of the Kickoff

The new NFL kickoff rule is more than just a minor tweak; it’s a fundamental reinvention of a key play, and the 35-yard line touchback is the engine of that change. It places a new premium on the skill, precision, and strategic thinking of kickers and special teams units. The teams that can master this new art form will have a significant competitive advantage, and the specialists who can adapt their game from pure power to surgical placement will be the ones who thrive in this new era of football.

About The Kicking System

Founded by former NFL and Division I kicker John Matich, The Kicking System is a premier training organization dedicated to developing elite kickers and punters. Based in San Diego, CA, we provide specialized coaching that focuses on flawless mechanics, explosive power, and the mental toughness required to succeed at the highest levels of football. Our comprehensive approach helps athletes from youth leagues to the professional ranks achieve their full potential.