Super Bowl LX could be the last we see from the NFL’s dynamic kickoff
The NFL’s data isn’t showing improvement in concussions suffered in kickoff plays.
When Super Bowl LX kicks off next Sunday in Santa Clara, California, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will line up under the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rules—the format introduced in the 2024 season. And it may well be the last time we see the controversial, yet partially effective, experiment.
That’s because the NFL Competition Committee recently met to look ahead at potential rule changes for the 2026 season, and the kickoff’s mixed bag of results were reviewed. Let’s break down the league’s numbers while getting insight from Dr. Stephanie Alessi LaRosa, Director of the Sports Neurology Program and concussion specialist at Hartford HealthCare.
NFL’s Kickoff yields mixed results
First off, the league’s data reported by Rob Maaddi from the AP. Two big numbers stand out from the league’s 2025 review of the dynamic kickoff:
- 74.3% return rate: This is a massive one, as it’s the highest return rate since 2010, per Rob Maddi. It was an increase from 32.7% in 2024. In terms of the football of it all, this is what the NFL wanted. More action in kickoffs is better for viewership.
- 1.68% concussion rate: Conversely, this isn’t what the NFL wanted, as it’s a jump from 0.87% in 2024. Not only did the number concussions jump from eight to 35 (which isn’t a surprise as there were more returns) but for concussions increased proportionally. This should be a red flag for the league and one that could lead to immediate changes.
“Kickoff returns are a high‑velocity and inherently dangerous play,” Dr. Alessi-LaRosa tells A to Z Sports. “Attempts to alter this play to create more opportunities for fair catches or to delay the running of the kicking team are great ideas, but the data have not clearly shown a reduction in concussions, which was part of the intention.”
One of the biggest features from the NFL’s dynamic kickoff is exactly the delay of the running from both teams pointed out by Dr. Alessi LaRosa. Unfortunately, the numbers don’t suggest a reduction in concussions, leaving room for questions about the future of the play. At this point, it’s only fair to wonder if the emphasis moving forward becomes increased fair catches (which directly opposes the league’s entertainment goals). If so, why not get rid of it altogether? Such a decision would happen only based on entertainment, not player safety.
“I don’t feel strongly that getting rid of the kickoff altogether is the solution, because concussions can occur on every play and at every position in professional football,” Dr. Alessi-LaRosa adds. “Reducing exposure to head impacts does reduce concussions, but in a collision sport where contact is central to the game, some level of risk will always remain.”
What’s next
What is clear is that concussions will remain a part of football, regardless of what the league does with its kickoff rules. However, where the NFL goes from here will be a story to watch in the offseason.
For now, the league’s efforts to reduce contact in practice and during the offseason are expected to continue.
“With the increased attention and recognition of concussions has come rule changes, improved coaching on proper blocking techniques, and an increased presence of athletic trainers,” says Dr. Alessi-LaRosa. “Reducing contact exposure, such as limiting or removing live player‑on‑player contact in practices and replacing it with sleds or other equipment, has also been a positive development in recent years.”
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