ORLANDO, Fla. — John Fassel isn't sure about the timing.
It might happen on Monday. It may take several months.
But the Cowboys' special teams coordinator, who has spearheaded the NFL's consideration of adopting a new style of kickoff that could spill over to the college and prep school levels, believes the league is on the brink of change. .
“It will pass,” Fassel said. “The sooner the better.”
All NFL owners, head coaches and general managers gathered in a hotel ballroom Sunday for four hours to discuss potential rule changes that club owners are expected to vote on this week. Fassel is one of two special teams coordinators to answer questions here at the NFL's annual meeting and lobby in favor of a revamped kickoff in 2024.
Owners are scheduled to vote on the play on Monday, which is heavily inspired by the kickoff model the XFL has used the last two seasons. If the owners don't approve a new kickoff Monday, Fassel expects it will be approved in May.
That's when the owners reconvened for the NFL's Spring Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
“John has been working on this the last few years,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said after Sunday's session. “It was great to watch him grow, especially in the offseason. He made the cut. [XFL] Video up. I thought today's presentation was good. Like everything, it's very new. I just have so many questions. ”
“He's sharp,” Kansas City Chiefs manager Andy Reid said. “He's a smart guy. He's very good at navigating all the different options that are presented to him. So he's easy to talk to.”
Holding off on the vote until the May 20-22 meeting would give owners more time to understand the rule changes.
This requires all kickoff team members, except for the kicker at his own 35-yard line, to stand at the opponent's 40-yard line. This his 10 players cannot move until the kicked ball reaches their opponent or lands in a designated landing zone between the goal line and his 20-yard line.
At least nine members of the returning team must line up in a 5-yard area, known as the setup zone, between their own 25-yard line and 30-yard line. A maximum of two returners can stand in the landing zone.
“This is what it is,” Fassel said. “In today's NFL, when you kick off, everyone starts running. But if you say, 'Boom, pause' the moment you catch the ball, where is everyone on the kickoff and kickoff return?” What we're saying is, that's where the play begins. We are not running to get there.
“Our idea is that as soon as the ball is kicked, everyone starts moving. After the ball is caught, it's really the same play. You're just removing all the speed and all the big collisions in space. ”
Fassel expects to see a significant increase in kickoffs returned as well as starting field positions and kickoffs returned for touchdowns. On a play-by-play basis, this new kickoff is projected to be safer than the previous kickoff, but the number of returned kickoffs could increase the total number of injuries.
This speaks to how fewer kickoffs were returned in 2023 than new kickoffs, just 22% of kickoffs, according to Fassel. He said the league expects the injury rate to be similar to planned run plays on offense.
The NFL Competition Committee made one amendment to the proposed rule.
If the kickoff team has a touchback, the returning team's offense begins at its own 30-yard line. Previous languages required drive start at 35.
New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi also joined Fassel for Monday's presentation. Both men also met with the competition committee at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month.
“Liz and I are saying, 'Look, whatever tweaks you need to make, we're fine,'” Fassel said. “We just want to incorporate this play. Whether it's at the end of training camp or next spring, we'll continue to modify it. … I don't want to say we know it's going to pass. At some point, this is going to be piloted, so it's better to pilot it now. If you wait until next year, you'll say, 'Well, why not this year?' It will happen.”
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