The NFL’s new kickoff rules have reinvigorated the play, with the return rate spiking this year after offseason tweaks. Big plays are up, and so is excitement.
But with more returns have come more injuries, including a surge in concussions that could prompt another look at how to manage player safety during kickoffs.
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Through seven weeks this season, 79.3 percent of kickoffs had been returned, a big jump from the 31.7 percent return rate through seven weeks last season.
But the rate of concussions per 100 kickoffs through seven weeks rose from 0.09 in 2024 to 1.18 this season, according to internal league data that was shared with teams and viewed by The Athletic. The concussion rate per 100 kickoff returns climbed to 1.48 through seven weeks, compared to 0.29 last season.
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