The NFL has passed a rule change proposal affecting the onside kick, as now teams can declare an onside kick any time when they’re trailing. Last season, when the dynamic kickoff went into effect, teams could only declare an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the 10 cover guys (non-kicker) will also be on the 35-yard line, even with the ball, after previously needing to be back back a yard, a move that the NFL hopes will improve the chances the kicking team recovers the ball. SI’s Albert Breer reported the details of the change.
While the onside kick is rarely successful and alternatives have been discussed, it never made much sense when the NFL changed it last year to only allow teams to try an onside kick in the fourth quarter. While that’s been changed, only teams that are trailing can declare an onside kick, while prior to 2024, either team could attempt an onside kick if they wanted.
The change to player positioning should hopefully at least make the kick more exciting and give the kicking team a better chance at recovering the ball. It’s exciting when an onside kick does work, but it doesn’t work much, with a 6.45% success rate on the play last season, per Odds Shark.
The game didn’t go Pittsburgh’s way, but one of the more notable onside kicks went in Pittsburgh’s favor during Super Bowl XXX. The Steelers attempted one down 10 in the fourth quarter, recovering and driving down the field for a touchdown to cut the Cowboys’ lead to three.
The revision to the rule should hopefully bring some excitement back into the play, and it’s one that the NFL feels will. It wouldn’t be a surprise if further changes came down the line to the onside kick if this revision doesn’t improve recovery success rates. But it’s a better idea than what the league had last year, and recovery rates should at least be higher than in 2024.
