Revised Touchback Rule Fails to Lessen Kickoff Injuries

Who knew five yards could be such a big deal? This time last year, one of the most talked about issues in the NFL was the decision to move touchbacks on kickoff returns from the 20- to the 25-yard line.

The league had visions of lessening to temptation to run back a kick (and, therefore, cut down on injuries) with the incentive of five free yards, but the numbers show little progress in that regard.

Although concussions on kickoffs dropped from 20 in 2015 to 17 in 2016, hamstring injuries and MCL tears increased from 11 to 13 and from 3 to 5 respectively, while ACL tears (almost always a season-ender, and an acronym sure to strike fear into the heart of any football player) rose from 1 to 4.

As is often the case with micromanagement in any business, it appears fevered attempts to plug up one hole have resulted in cracks appearing elsewhere.

Many coaches – with Bill Belichick among the most vocal – claimed that, while the rule change might make things safer for the returner, it would do little to protect all other players on that play.

Special teamers are taught to block the first man they see on kick returns until they hear a whistle. Since the officials can’t signal a play dead until the man with the ball makes his move, a lot of action fifty yards down the field can still result in injury.

As the season wore on, the savviest co-ordinators found ways to exploit the new rule. With kicks landing inside the opponent’s five with regularity, KRs were forced to bring the ball out or else concede a safety.

In those cases, the only thing left injured was a returner’s ego after a gunner or two would inevitably break free and stuff him short of the 15.

NFL representatives will now further analyse the data before presenting the findings to the competition committee in March. The group will then decide what to do with the rule for 2017, and you can rest assured that risk of injury won’t be the only factor in that decision.