'The Last Straw!' Cowboys' John Fassel Pushing For Kickoff Rule Change
The kickoff is one of the most-iconic plays in football as it marks the start of every single game, but at the same time, it's also one of the most controversial.
According to NFL data, only 22 percent of kickoffs were returned during the 2023 season, and that number is likely to decrease even more in the future. As such, the league is strongly considering overhauling the kickoff rules to resemble those of the XFL, which should help create more return opportunities and reduce the amount of injuries that occur on kickoffs.
Leading the charge for the rule change is none other than Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel, one of the league's most-respected coaches at his position. As the veteran coach watched Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, he couldn't help but feel like the game was the death knell for the kickoff as we know it.
“It was 13 out of 13 touchbacks,” Fassel told the Dallas Morning News. “I was like, ‘Well, that’s the end of this. Something has got to happen now.’ I already kind of knew it, but when it’s that big of a stage, not only was it 13 out of 13 touchbacks, 12 of the 13 kicks went out of the end zone. So, it wasn’t even a returnable chance, even if you were 9 (yards) deep. That was like, ‘OK, that’s the last straw right there.’”
Two weeks later, Fassel decided to make his case for overhauling the kickoff process. The 50-year-old was one of three special teams coordinators to meet with the NFL's competition committee on Sunday and he met with officiating leadership on Friday morning.
In the meeting with the competition committee, Fassel gave a presentation on how the XFL rules could work at the NFL level, with modifications. Commissioner Roger Goodell described Fassell's presentation as "very good," and New York Giants co-owner John Mara was even more impressed.
“He’s obviously an accomplished special teams coach. I think everybody respects him — I certainly do," Mara told the Dallas Morning News. "I loved listening to his presentation. I think he’s going to have a lot of input on the Committee in coming up with a proposal, possibly to be voted on at the owners meeting in March.”
Reportedly, the kickoff rule change has garnered plenty of support across the league, and could be finalized as soon as the annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida later this month. If/when the rule change passes, Fassel can look on proudly knowing he played a huge role in the process.
