With the NFL league meetings underway in Dallas on Wednesday, NFL executives held news conferences highlighting the health and safety initiatives undertaken by the league this year, as well as the league’s current plans for diversity, equity and inclusion going forward.
These news conferences offered key insights into the state of the league and hinted at a potential roadmap of how the NFL plans to approach its 2025 offseason. Here are the main points of Wednesday’s meetings:
Kickoff returns are up 20 percent after dynamic rule change
Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president for football operations, also highlighted the uptick in kickoff returns in the first year under the new dynamic kickoff. Through 14 weeks, kickoffs have a return rate of 31.9 percent, up from 20 percent last season. There have been 41 plays of 40-plus yards and six touchdown returns, most since 2020 and 2021, respectively.
He added that the onside kick would be revisited in the offseason.
“We need to look at that. That’s a dead play,” Vincent said. “That is a ceremonial play, very low recovery rate. When we look at the kickoff, and maybe where the touchback area should be during the offseason, we. need to revisit the onside kick.”
Injury rates are down, but Guardian Cap questions remain
Injuries are down league-wide this season, NFL executive Jeff Miller said, noting a decrease in both concussions and lower-extremity injury numbers.
In regards to concussions, though, there is not yet enough evidence to suggest that Guardian Caps have significantly aided in that cause. Miller estimated that the highest number of players that have worn Guardian Caps in-game during any given week has been 10.
Those numbers are too small to glean significant injury data, but Miller noted that Guardian Caps usage reduced concussions by 50 percent in the preseason. He also said the league’s highest-rated standalone helmets perform on-par with Guardian Caps, and the league is pushing players to use those helmets most.
Miller touched on continuing to reduce high-speed helmet impacts, while Vincent emphasized a potential outlawing of below-the-knee blocks. Vincent laid out a potential blocking window existing only above the knee and below the neck.
“This is the right time to remove the low block out of the game,” Vincent said.
Reviewable penalties
While Vincent noted that any major rule changes would have to come from membership, he said he would like to see face mask penalties be discovered through replay assistance.
“I see it like yourselves and the fans,” Vincent said. “I have an opportunity to see it from a different angle, seeing it from a slow-mo. When you think about the positions of where the officials are, things are happening so fast. Sometimes the face mask may be the same color as the glove, and there’s a lot happening concerning us because that’s a big foul.”
Vincent also said additional penalties or signals could get spotted by replay assist, like tripping, illegal bat, fair catch, illegal formations on kickoffs and taunting.
Closer and higher-scoring games are on the rise
Vincent kicked off the health and safety conference by noting that games have been closer than ever this season. Through 14 weeks, the league has had a record number of games decided by seven points or fewer. Vincent also noted that scoring is on the rise, particularly via long field goals. The NFL has already made 730 field goals and 151 field goals of 50-plus yards, both most in NFL history.
“People always talk about, ‘Why would people tune in? Why are people so enthusiastic?’ Because when you have games that are decided by one possession, one-possession games, that’s extraordinary” Vincent said.
Senate passes Hamlin-backed bill
Miller also highlighted an undertaking by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who worked with New York senator Chuck Schumer to pass a bill in the senate to fund high schools looking to purchase life-saving AED equipment. The grants approved through the bill would also provide training and emergency action plans for high school coaches and staffs.
The news comes nearly two years after Hamlin collapsed on the field from commotio cordis.
“The amount of enthusiasm behind that is just a sight to see,” Miller said. “And if it weren’t for Chuck Schumer’s dedication to getting it passed, it wouldn’t be done. This is a big step forward for youth health and safety, and we could not be more excited to support them in that work.”
League hiring cycle not changing
During the league’s news conference on diversity, equity and inclusion, NFL executive Jonathan Beane said that the league will not make any changes to its current hiring cycle process before the 2025 offseason begins. When asked about whether the NFL will be impacted by the result of last month’s presidential election, Beane re-affirmed the league’s commitments to DEI initiatives.
Required reading
- Dolphins, Bills sell stakes in team to private equity firms for first time in NFL history
- NFL owners approve 8 percent sale of Eagles to investment groups
- NFL owners approve 15 percent sale of Raiders, welcoming more members to ownership group
- Bengals’ Joe Burrow victim of home burglary during game vs. Cowboys
(Photo: Randy Litzinger / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
