Until this week, kickoffs have become less and less important in the modern NFL.
At the NFL's annual meeting earlier this week, league owners passed significant rule changes for kickoff. The league essentially follows the XFL kickoff model, where the kicking and receiving teams line up close to each other but are not allowed to move until the ball reaches the returner. This change is intended to place more emphasis on kickoff returns, as they have become less common over the years.
July 31, 2023. Oxnard, California, USA.Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel in training
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Many have been pushing for this change to happen, and Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel is one of the most notable names in that camp. Fassel, a respected veteran within the league, was one of three special teams coordinators who met with the NFL's competition committee to support the new rules earlier this month.
Needless to say, Fassel is thrilled to see the NFL officially pass the rules he helped introduce.
“That was a close call,” Fassel said Thursday. good morning football. “And I feel like it's coming back, and it's coming back in a big way. This is a big change, so I have to say I'm proud of the NFL's bold move.”
Fassel should be excited about this change on many levels, not only because he helped get the rule passed, but also because it gives him a better chance to use Kavonte Turpin, one of the most dangerous returners in the NFL.
Turpin, the 2022 USFL MVP, showed off his talent by making the final kick in a 2022 preseason game, but hasn't had much opportunity to show his magic since then. In fact, Turpin only had 10 kickoff returns all last season. But under the new rules, he should have even more opportunities to showcase his talent.
Even ignoring that possibility, Fassel is excited to see how the kickoff changes affect the game at all levels.
“If this gets adopted at college football, high school football and other lower levels, I think we've done a great thing for the football community,” Fassel said. “We've made it better, we've made it safer, and I can't wait to see where it goes. I think everyone's going to really like it. It's a unique look at first, but once the ball When you catch it, the game begins and it feels like a real football play.”
