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NFL Approves Rule Change Aiming To Make Game Safer

Super Bowl LVII - Kansas City Chiefs v Philadelphia Eagles

Photo: Getty Images

The National Football League approved a new rule for all fair catches and touchdowns to come out to the 25-yard line for one year only during the spring meetings in Minneapolis on Tuesday (May 23), the league announced in a news release.

The release states the following per NFLCommunications.com:

After a fair catch is made, or is awarded as the result of fair-catch interference, the receiving team has the option of putting the ball in play by either a:Ā 
(a)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā fair-catch kick (drop kick or placekick without a tee) from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after enforcement of any applicable penaltiesĀ or rule) (3-10 and 11-4-3), orĀ 
(b)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā snap from the spot of the catch (or the succeeding spot after enforcement of any applicable penalties), unless a player on the receiving team makes a fair catch of a free kick behind the receiving team's 25-yard line, in which case the ball will be put in play at the receiving team's 25-yard line.

The NFL said the rule change was intended to limit injuries sustained during kickoff returns.

ā€œYou know we have different viewpoints in the league, but the data is very clear. … There will be a lot of work that needs to be done," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said while addressing the rule change via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday.


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