The NFL could set its kickoffs in 2025

According to the Washington PostMark Maske, the NFL’s competition committee, is considering moving touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line for the 2025 season. The 30-yard line touchback spot is new to the NFL due to the league’s “dynamic” kickoff change, but it hasn’t sufficiently deterred teams from letting it kick into or through the end zone.

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys were the team with the highest touchback rate with a rate of 89 percent. The Los Angeles Rams, the Green Bay Packers’ next opponent, are currently achieving a touchback rate of 95 percent.

The Packers actually ranked last in touchback percentage as a kickoff unit in 2023 with a rate of 43 percent. This year it’s up to 65 percent as the league focuses on kickoffs, which are the dominant kicking strategy under this rulebook.

Green Bay also takes care of the offense on the other side of the ball. Keisean Nixon, a first-team All-Pro kick returner the past two seasons, has only returned one ball this season – a rash return following the Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Don’t expect him to come back this week either.

Hopefully touchbacks down to the 35 yard line would put more balls in play. The Competition Commission will have to decide on this.

The competition committee currently consists of four coaches, Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers, Sean McDermott of the Bills, Sean McVay of the Rams and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers, two general managers, Chris Grier of the Dolphins and John Lynch of the 49ers. one owner, John Mara of the Giants, and three executives, Rich McKay of the Falcons, Stephen Jones of the Cowboys and Katie Blackburn of the Bengals.