Fans have mocked NFL owners online after it was reported that changes to the onside-kick rule had been passed. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini broke the news that owners had agreed on the change, allowing teams to declare an onside kick at any point in the game if trailing.
Reactions to the announcement have been overwhelmingly negative, with a consistent thread of annoyance and sarcasm filling the comments section.
NFL Owners Pass Onside-Kick Rule Changes
After an overhaul of the traditional kickoff was introduced for the 2024 season, the way teams had to line up for kickoffs no longer supported onside kicks. To counter this, the NFL decided that teams could still attempt onside kicks, but would have to declare their intention to do so, allowing each team to line up accordingly.
That rule has annoyed NFL fans, as the element of surprise that could be gained with an onside kick was wiped out, making an already difficult play almost impossible to execute.
A year on, NFL owners have passed an amendment to the rule. Previously, a team was only permitted to declare an onside kick if trailing in the fourth quarter. But under the new rules, teams will be able to do so at any point in the game.
One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is that a team may only declare an onside kick if trailing in the game, something that has puzzled some fans. One such fan responded to Russini’s post, questioning why teams couldn’t be left to make their own decisions regarding the maneuver while leading.
“Why not just let teams declare them whenever they want? If a team decides to do an onside kick up by 3 in the 2nd quarter that should be their prerogative, the NFL really doesn’t need to police that.”
Why not just let teams declare them whenever they want? If a team decides to do an onside kick up by 3 in the 2nd quarter that should be their prerogative, the NFL really doesn’t need to police that
— Ben (@bhalo22)
The other change to the rule, according to Russini, is that onside kicks will be attempted from the 34-yard line, as opposed to the 35. It’s unclear from the insider’s post whether the kick would still need to cross the 45-yard line or whether it would still need to travel just 10 yards.
Another fan bemoaned the fact that the rule had been changed in the first place, calling the 2024 decision “stupid.”
“Such a stupid rule they implemented last year.”
such a stupid rule they implemented last year.
— Ant Nat (@natolisnuggets)
Reports have since emerged that the proposal to ban the controversial Tush Push has failed by two votes, news which has understandably prompted a more impassioned response.
