What 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan had to say About the new Kickoff Rule

Kickoff returns continue to be slowly phased out by the NFL.

The league has implemented a new kickoff rule where fair catches can now be given an automatic placement at the 25-yard line. This basically incentivizes kick returners to just take the fair catch. It won't be long before kickoffs are extinct in the NFL.

The NFL has passed a new rule instituting all fair catches and touchbacks come out to the 25-yard line on kickoffs, source said. Now the same as the college rule, the thought is that this should make it safer, though special teams coaches around the league oppose the change.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 23, 2023

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about his thought on the new kickoff rule on Tuesday following OTA practice.

“Probably the same as all the special teams coaches. When you don't have experience of it, you don't know which way it's going to go. And I think the point is probably to eliminate kickoffs, which is for safety, so if that's the case then I think everyone's for that. I’m just not sure that it is, so we'll have to see how it plays out now and how it goes and how we adjust to it, but that's the rule now, so now we'll start trying to make estimates about what our philosophies will be, but any philosophy will be developed through the experience of watching how it works out throughout the year.”

The good ole "it's for safety" logic. That is what is being used to implement this rule change. Quite hysterical really and hypocritical of the NFL. They do so much all these years to render kickoff returns moot in the name of "safety," yet have no issue with Thursday Night Football.

And now, the NFL is allowing flexing for Thursday night games, so how on earth is that safe and care for the players?

Spoiler: IT ISN'T!

The reason Thursday Night Football remains a staple is money. It's technically a primetime game, so of course the NFL doesn't want to regress it or remove it. That is why they are trying their best to eliminate kickoffs to get everyone focused on that. They swear by their "data" all while players and coaches continue to detest the Thursday night games.

Sound logic by the NFL.