Overview

• Teams returned 118 of 156 kickoffs in Week 1 (75.6%), the highest single-week rate since 2010.
• The spike followed owners’ March approval to spot touchbacks at the 35-yard line, reviving a stronger incentive to kick short.
• The XFL-inspired alignment installed in 2024 remains, placing players downfield at the start to limit high-speed collisions.
• Average drive starts after returns reached the 29.5-yard line in Week 1, prompting more kicks kept short of the end zone.
• The league reported a 43% drop in concussions on kickoff returns last season under the new alignment, framing the safety context for the change.