The start of NFL games will soon start to look *** little different than what you're used to. What does this new rule mean? And why has it got everyone talking in March 2024 the NFL announced *** new kickoff rule and analysts and fans are calling this *** major change to the game to break it down. The kicker will still kick from the 35 yard line but the rest of their team will line up on the other team's 40 yard line. The receiving team will then line up just five yards in front in what will be called the set up zone, which is from their 30 yard line to their 35 yard line. Once the ball is kicked, no one except the returners and the kicker can move until the ball is touched or hits the ground new for this year in front of the goal line and behind the 20 yard line is what will be called the landing zone. If the ball lands within the landing zone, it must be returned. There is no more fair catch. If it bounces from the landing zone into the end zone, it must be returned or down. If the ball is down in the end zone, it gets placed at the 20 yard line. If the ball goes directly into or through the end zone, the ball will be placed at the 30 yard line. But if the ball lands short of the landing zone, it will then be placed at the 40 yard line. So what's the commotion, this change will impact how teams adapt their strategy for kickoff plays. Some teams might try and kick it out of the end zone every time. Meanwhile, we might see kicking teams trying to cough and corner the receiving teams similar to when they are punting. It could also force kickers to tackle more. So why did the NFL make this change? They want to encourage more teams to kick it into the landing zone and return the ball? They've predicted that 50% of kicks will be returned this season. *** large increase from last season's 22%. Another reason is to prevent injuries after *** rule change in 2011 that reduced the distance from the kickoff to the opposing end zone. The league reported that concussions during Kickoffs was reduced by 40%. In 1974. The NFL moved the kicker from the 40 yard line to the 35 to increase returns. In 1994 they moved the kicker even further to the 30 yard line for the same reason. And then in 2011, they moved the kicker back to the 35 to reduce returns and injuries. This is the first time *** kickoff rule change will adjust where the kicking team lines up, but it's definitely not the first time the NFL has changed the rules.