The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL The kickers strike back
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Oct 23, 2025 Jourdan Rodrigue, a National NFL writer known for her deep dive into special teams, joins Mike Sando, another NFL analyst focused on league trends, to discuss the pivotal role of kickers this season. They explore the recent kickoff rule changes and the infamous K-ball, examining how these shifts lead to increased return rates and shifting offensive strategies. They also highlight the psychological aspects of kickers' equipment and its impact on performance, revealing how these adjustments add excitement and drama to NFL games.
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Kicking's Sudden Centrality
- Kickers and kickoffs became central this season due to two rule changes that revived the kicking game.
- The kickoff touchback and K-ball rules together pushed teams to re-evaluate strategy and personnel.
Landing Zone And Touchback Shift
- The touchback line moved to the 35 and the landing-zone penalty moved to the 40 this year.
- That five-yard shift materially increases return opportunities and late-game leverage.
Field Position Alters Scoring Rates
- Scoring probability rises sharply with field position after kickoff; touchbacks now produce shorter fields.
- The result doubled return rates and increased scoring starts after kickoffs in early weeks.