NFL rule change sparks five-fold increase in concussions, data suggests

For years the NFL kickoff was a break in the action. Fans checked their phones, grabbed a drink or zoned out while the ball sailed into the end zone for a touchback.

That all changed this season with a key rule change. The kickoff is alive again, but the excitement comes with a price that may be worrying both the league and the player’s union.

Through the first seven weeks of the 2025 NFL season, 79% of kicks were returned. That is a huge increase compared with 31% last season and 22% in 2023. On the field the change has had the desired effect, with more speed shifts, more open lanes and more dynamic bursts. There were 32 gains of at least 40 yards through Week 7, compared to just 13 over the same period in 2024.

The roots of the new system go back to 2024, when owners approved a proposal to reduce long running starts while still creating real space for a return. Essentially, the kicking team lines up at the opponent’s 40 and the receiving wall sets between the 35 and the end zone. Returners wait between the 20 and the goal line. No one can move until the ball is caught or touches the ground.

The key tweak for 2025 was the 35-yard line placement on touchbacks. With better field position guaranteed, kickers were encouraged to drop the ball into the landing zone. The effect was immediate. Seven of every 10 kickoffs landed in that zone early in the season. One year earlier the rate was two of every 10.

How has the kickoff rule change affected players?

However that excitement appears to have a cost. During the same period the concussion rate per 100 kickoffs jumped from 0.09 to 1.18. The rate per 100 returns climbed from 0.29 to 1.48.

Internal data sent to teams estimates the risk is now almost five times higher than a standard run or pass play. The NFL acknowledged the spike without giving details and said it needs more information before deciding what comes next.

Philadelphia fullback Ben VanSumeren ruptured his patellar tendon on the opening kickoff of Week 1 and left on a stretcher. New England running back Antonio Gibson, one of the few players with a return touchdown this year, tore his ACL in Week 5 against Buffalo.

Washington wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, one of the league’s top returned, fractured his collarbone while ranking among the league’s top returners. His Commanders teammate Ale Kaho suffered a concussion and missed the trip to Madrid, while Denver All-Pro specialist Marvin Mims Jr. took a hit that sidelined him for two games.

The plan succeeded in bringing the play back to life but the implications for players appear to be significant. With injuries rising, league executives already expect the competition committee to step in before the momentum of the spectacle forces yet another redesign.

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