NFL kickoff rules, explained: What to know about 2025 rule changes, penalties, player safety & more

Gilbert McGregor

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NFL kickoff rules, explained: What to know about 2025 rule changes, penalties, player safety & more image

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Few things in football are as important as the kickoff.

The first and second halves begin with kickoffs, and they are implemented after every scoring play where time remains. In the NFL, kickoffs have undergone a variety of changes over the years, with one of the most significant overhauls coming ahead of the 2024 season.

With a new system in place, the NFL made a few tweaks ahead of the 2025 season to refine what is already in place. Here is how the NFL kickoff rules have evolved into what they are for the new season and beyond.

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Is there a new kickoff rule for 2025?

The dynamic kickoff rules implemented in 2024 return for the 2025 season, but modifications have been made.

  • The starting field position is now the 35-yard line for a touchback. It was the 30-yard line in 2024
  • Onside kicks can now be attempted by a trailing team at any point in the game, not just the fourth quarter

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What are the NFL kickoff rules?

Let's take a look at everything that is covered by the NFL's kickoff rules.

Kicker's restraining line

After offensive scoring plays, the ball is kicked from the team's 35-yard line unless adjusted by penalty. Safety kicks are from the team's 20-yard line.

Special teams alignment

These rules apply to the kicking team:

  • All kicking team players, other than the kicker, line up with their front foot on the 40-yard line — five yards ahead of where the ball is kicked from.
  • The kicker cannot cross the vicinity of the 50-yard line until the ball touches the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone
  • The 10 kicking team players cannot move until the ball hits the ground or player in the landing zone or end zone

These rules apply to the receiving team:

  • At least nine receiving team players must line up in the setup zone — a five-yard area between their own 35-yard line and 30-yard line. 
  • At least six players must have their front foot on their 35-yard line with alignment requirements.
  • A maximum of three players in the setup zone, not on the restraining line, are allowed. But never more than one player in each of the three areas within the setup zone bordered by sidelines and inbounds lines.
  • Players in the setup zone cannot move until the kick has hit the ground or a player in the landing zone or the end zone
  • A maximum of two returners may line up in the landing zone and can move at any time prior to, or during, the kick

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Landing zone

The landing zone is the name for the area between the receiving team's goal line and its 20-yard line. The dynamic kickoff rules revolve around the ball finding that zone.

  • Kicks that hit short of the landing zone are treated like a kickoff out of bounds. The play is immediately blown dead and the ball is spotted at the receiving team's 40-yard line.
  • Kicks that hit and remain in the landing zone must be returned
  • Kicks that hit in the landing zone and go into the end zone must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If downed, it is a touchback at the receiving team's 20-yard line.
  • Kicks that hit in the end zone and stay inbounds can be returned or downed. If downed, it is a touchback to the receiving team's 35-yard line.
  • Kicks that go out of the back of the end zone (in the air or bounces) are a touchback to the receiving team's 35-yard line.

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NFL kickoff penalties

The following rules apply for penalties committed during kickoffs.

  • Illegal blocking on an onside kick or illegal use of hands by either team is a 10-yard penalty
  • A player of the receiving team running into the kicker before he recovers his balance is a five-yard penalty
  • Illegal touching of an onside kick by the kicking team results in a loss of five yards, or the receiving team takes possession of the ball at the spot of the illegal touch.
  • An illegal touch of a free kick by the kicking team results in a loss of five yards
  • Voluntarily going out of bounds on a free kick without contact results in a loss of five yards

If a foul occurs during a kickoff, enforcement is from the previous spot, and the free kick is made again.

If a kicking team commits a foul before the end of the kick, or if the receiving team commits a foul during the return but keeps possession of the ball, then the receiving team can take the penalty at the original kickoff sport and make the kicking team re-kick or keep the return and have the penalty enforced from the spot where the play ended. 

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Why did NFL change its kickoff rules?

The NFL changed its kickoff rules to reduce injuries and promote more kickoffs.

Player safety and concussion concerns

Research showed that the traditional kickoff had a concussion rate nearly twice that of a standard play from the line of scrimmage. 

Related to this, overall concussions decreased to a historic low in the first season of the dynamic kickoff, with numbers decreasing by 17 percent in comparison to the previous year.

XFL influence on kickoffs

The dynamic kickoff was designed by Sam Schwartzstein, who was previously tasked with developing rules implemented by the XFL (which has since merged with the USFL to form the UFL).

In the spirit of promoting more kickoffs, the NFL looked toward the XFL, which saw over 90 percent of kickoffs returned during the 2023 season. NFL owners voted 29-3 in favor of adopting the current format.

The first year of the NFL's dynamic kickoff saw 332 more kickoff returns than the previous year.

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How do onside kicks work?

To attempt an onside kick, a team must be trailing, and they must declare an onside kick to the officials before the start of the play clock. The official then notifies the receiving team before starting the play clock.

The ball is placed on the 34-yard line, while the kicking team lines up at the 35-yard line. It must travel 10 yards to be legally recovered by the kicking team, but the pre-play declaration allows for the receiving team to be better prepared.

These rules apply:

  • A player of the kicking team may legally touch, catch, or recover the ball if the holder of a place kick is beyond the line and the kicker is beyond the line, provided that his kicking foot is not beyond the line.
  • The ball is dead if it is caught or recovered by a player on the kicking team. If the catch of recovery is legal, the ball belongs to the kicking team at the dead ball spot.
  • If a player of the receiving team catches or recovers the ball, he may advance.
  • If the ball comes to rest anywhere on the field and no player attempts to possess it, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team at the dead ball spot. If the onside kick goes untouched beyond the onside kick setup zone, the ball becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team.

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History of NFL kickoff rule changes

There have been several kickoff rule changes throughout the history of the game.

Here are some of the most notable changes:

  • 1974: Kickoff spot moved to the 35-yard line
  • 1994: Kickoff spot moved to the 30-yard line
  • 2011-Present: Kickoff moved to the 35-yard line
  • 2016-18: Touchbacks on kickoffs go to the 25-yard line
  • 2023: Fair catch inside the 25-yard line is a touchback
  • 2024: Fair catch prohibited on kickoffs
  • 2024: Touchbacks on kickoffs go to the 30-yard line
  • 2024-Present: Implementation of the dynamic kickoff
  • 2024: Onside kicks only permitted in the fourth quarter by trailing teams
  • 2025-Present: Touchbacks on kickoffs go to the 35-yard line
  • 2025: Onside kicks permitted by trailing teams at any point in the game

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Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.