The NFL could be in for a record year in the kickoff return department.
Because of the league’s new kickoff rule, moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line, kickoff returns were up an exorbitant amount in Week 1, with more than 75 percent of kickoffs resulting in returns. Based on this data, it appears the rule change pursued by the league has worked, at least for one week.
Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, in Week 1, “teams returned 118 of 156 kickoffs for a 75.6% return rate. The last time the NFL had a higher return rate for a single week was Week 17 of the 2010 season.”
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When the new kickoff rules were introduced at the start of the 2024 season, the league was widely criticized for the move. But after an offseason yardage adjustment and one week of regular-season play, the league is already on pace to set a new record for kickoff return yards, which adds excitement to the game.
Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver MarTay Jenkins holds the record for most kickoff return yards with 2,186, set during the 2000 season. Jenkins accomplished that feat on 82 returns during a 16-game schedule, where he played every game.
The Dallas Cowboys’ KaVontae Turpin led the NFL in kick return yardage last season with 904, up from the previous year when CB Keisean Nixon of the Green Bay Packers led with 782 return yards. The league’s plan to increase kickoff returns seems to be working based on this small sample size.
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Due to the starting point of the offense following a touchback, kicking team’s are now encouraged more than ever to kick a returnable ball to the opposition. The added “landing zone,” which falls between the return team’s goal line and its 20-yard line, has become the target area for kickers. Any ball landing within this zone must be returned by the receiving team.
Will the trend continue in Week 2? All eyes will be on Green Bay and Washington as they kick off Thursday Night Football from Lambeau Field.
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