PALM BEACH, Fla. — The dynamic kickoff may be even more dynamic in 2025.
The NFL announced Tuesday that following a touchback on a kickoff, the receiving team would gain possession at its own 35-yard line. A year ago, the first season with the new kickoff, receiving teams took over at their own 30-yard line.
In the eyes of new Broncos Special Teams Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach Darren Rizzi, the time was right to move the touchback location and add more excitement to the play.
"This is a great day," Rizzi said at the NFL's press conference at the Annual Meeting. "I think the one thing that we all have to understand is that we're going to see a lot more kickoff returns now in the NFL. … When I was growing up, we saw a touchback rate of maybe 15 to 25 percent. Somewhere in that neighborhood. And we feel like that's going to be the case again. We're going to bring more excitement back."
A day earlier at the AFC Coaches Breakfast, Head Coach Sean Payton indicated the Broncos were in favor of the rule change.
The initial results of the new-look kickoff were promising. In addition to being a much safer play, there were significantly more kickoff returns in 2024; 32.8 percent of kickoffs were returned, compared to 21.8 percent in 2023. According to the NFL, there were also 59 returns of at least 40 yards, which represented the most since 2016.
The Broncos, though, often wound up taking over at their own 30-yard line. Denver returned just 13 kicks in 2024, which was the fewest in the NFL. Rather than kick to All-Pro return man Marvin Mims Jr., teams simply let Denver set up with decent field position.
In 2025, quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos' offense would gain another five yards if opponents choose the same approach. And if they kick the ball in play, Mims should get a chance to make a splash; the dynamic player has averaged 26.9 yards per kick return in his career.
"[This is a] great day for the special teams world, [a] great day for the NFL [and a] great day for the fans," Rizzi said.
WORKING OVERTIME
In addition to the change to the kickoff — which included a shift in alignment requirements for players in the setup zone — the NFL announced that regular-season overtime rules will now be aligned with the postseason rules.
Previously, a team that scored a touchdown on the first possession of a regular-season overtime game would win the contest. In the postseason, each team is allowed to possess the ball no matter the result of the first drive. If the game continues after the first two drives, the game then a "next-score-wins" scenario.
The only remaining difference between the regular season and postseason rules is that a regular-season game that has not been decided after 10 minutes of overtime will be declared a tie.
Payton suggested Monday the Broncos were in favor of the change, as he noted he prefers consistency in the rules between the regular season and overtime.
"I like rules that are the same in the playoffs as they are in the regular season," Payton said. "I don't like rules where you get into the postseason, it's like we have to stop [and] announce it to everyone. … I think the easier we can make the game for our audience and our fans, the better.
"… I think we're at that point where I think it needs to be. … And there's nothing wrong if there's a tie."
LOOKING TOWARD THE OFFSEASON PROGRAM
It won't be long before the Broncos' voluntary offseason program begins and players are back in Denver to prepare for the season, and Payton said a number of players have already been back at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit to use the facilities as they work out on their own. Payton has touted the importance of the offseason program in helping the Broncos be one of the healthiest teams in the NFL over the past two seasons. With an extended focus on strength and conditioning work rather than immediately moving to football activities, Payton has discussed the proven benefit of Denver's approach.
"I think, No. 1, we have a lot of players who are already back lifting and working out, which is great, especially this time of the year," Payton said. "There are some cities that the offseason is more challenging relative to attendance. Fortunately for us, that's not a big challenge for us. I think players generally want to train in altitude and at our facilities. Once they've had two years of it now and to see where we're at relative to health and safety, injury data, we were first in the league again. It's easy to sell."
Once the players are back and the Broncos begin their work, Payton said there's an excitement for starting the work anew for another season.
"It's easy to say, 'We're on the right path,'" Payton said. "I think there's that confidence level that you have to have with your team."
