NFL Considers Rule Change to Move Touchbacks to 35-Yard Line for 2025 Season

The National Football League (NFL) is mulling a significant rule change that could impact the game’s strategy and player safety. According to a report by Mark Maske for the *Washington Post*, the NFL and its competition committee are considering moving the starting point for touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line beginning with the 2025 season.

This potential change follows a recent rule adjustment that took effect before the 2024 season, which moved touchbacks from the 25-yard line to the 30-yard line. This change was part of an ongoing effort to balance player safety with the desire to see more kickoff returns. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that the league views the current rule as a “work in progress” and is gathering data to determine its effectiveness.

The kickoff return rates have been a key metric in evaluating these rule changes. Since the kickoff was moved forward to the 35-yard line in 2010, and with the additional rule that any fair catch inside the 25-yard line results in a touchback (implemented prior to the 2023 season), kickoff return rates have significantly declined. In 2023, fewer than a quarter of kickoffs were returned, and while the rate has increased to approximately 29% in 2024, it remains below the league’s projected 55% return rate for this season.

The competition committee will review the data from the current season to decide whether to extend or modify the rule further. If the return rate does not meet expectations, moving touchbacks to the 35-yard line could be a significant step to encourage more returns while maintaining safety standards. Goodell emphasized that any changes would be aimed at enhancing safety and increasing the number of kickoff returns, which are seen as an exciting aspect of the game.

In addition to the rule change discussions, there has been ongoing clarification on existing touchback rules. For instance, if a ball is fumbled into the end zone and rolls out, it is considered a touchback. This is because the ball going out of bounds in the end zone results in a touchback, regardless of which team last possessed the ball. This rule ensures consistency and clarity in such scenarios.