The 2024 Super Bowl between Chiefs and 49ers is in a category of its own.
It was Taylor Swift’s first Super Bowl, but it was also the first time neither team returned a kickoff in a crucial game.
There were a total of 13 kickoff chances in this game, but all 13 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.
It is partially due to New fair catch rule at kickoff, It was approved by NFL owners last May for “player safety” purposes for the 2023-24 season.
This rule allows a player to make a fair catch on a kickoff, and the resulting possession begins at the team’s own 25-yard line.
The NFL came to this resolution to limit high-speed collisions and reduce the incidence of concussions.
NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay and NFL Executive Jeff Miller said: their data has been determined The incidence rate decreases from 38 percent to 31 percent, and concussion rates also decrease. 15% with approved proposal.
At the time, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that special teams coordinators unanimously opposed the rule change.
“The kickoff play for us is a play that has brought a lot of changes to us over the years, and all of that has really come from health and safety,” McKay told NFL Network’s Judy Bautista. Told. “The incidence of concussions during play has increased.
“It went up because the ball was being returned more often on kicks placed inside the 5-yard line. The university probably changed this rule in 2018 or 2019. We looked at their data and I said this is the right thing to do now.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said more rule changes could be made in the future. said last week He said the league needs to “find a way to preserve the kickoff” of games.
“It’s an exciting play and it’s just as important to us as a punt, but when you see the high injury rate from that play, you can’t ignore it,” he said.
The league is Reportedly considering XFL rules For a kickoff with less impact.
