here's everything you need to know about the NFL's new kickoff rule it's going to look a lot like the xfl's kickoff rule the kicker is going to be at the 35 but the kickoff team is going to start on the other 40 yd line only 5 yds away from the blockers these guys won't be able to move until the ball is touched by the returner now the end zone to the 20 yd line will be known as The Landing Zone and this is where the returner or returners will set up if the ball is caught in this Zone it must be returned there are no more fair catches remember this rule is to encourage Returns the return rate last year was only 20 2% so to incentivize that touchbacks are much harsher to the kicking team so let's break that down if the kick doesn't reach the landing Zone the ball's placed at the 40 yd line if it goes out of the end zone or flies into the end zone and is down like a normal Touchback the ball will be placed at the 35 if it hits in the landing Zone and then rolls into the end zone and is down the ball will be placed at the 20 but again this is all to incentivize them kicking it into the landing Zone and if it's caught in the landing Zone it must be returned now what about onside kicks well the actual kick will look the exact same the only difference is the team has to declare it to the referee who will then notify the receiving team which means there's no more surprise onside kicks so do you think this rule change will be good for the league