Chiefs’ Tommy Townsend is unhappy the NFL changed kickoff rule for the 2023 season
The NFL this week has approved a spate of changes for the 2023 season during the league’s spring meetings in Minnesota.
Teams will be allowed to use a third quarterback in games if the starter and backup are injured/unable to play. Also, flex scheduling for “Thursday Night Football” games will happen, but with 28 days notice.
There will be something new on kickoffs, too. The ball will be placed at the 25-yard line when a returner calls for a fair catch inside his own 25-yard line.
An NFL.com story says the league’s modeling shows the “kickoff return rate will decrease from 38% to 31% and the concussion rate will drop 15% due to the approved proposal.”
But Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote: “I’d also say this is more about the appearance of caring about player safety than actual player safety — given a mountain of data that the special teams coaches gathered to oppose the change.”
The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that league special teams coordinators “unanimously opposed the change.”
Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend was not happy about the new rule, and he voiced his displeasure on Twitter.
“Not good for football for many reasons,” Townsend tweeted. “But let’s pass something that players and coaches are so clearly against.”
