Rams’ Tricky New Kickoff Move Gave the Eagles Fits, and Every Team Should Do It

Andy Nesbitt | Sep 21, 2025

Rams kicker Joshua Karty has mastered the knuckleball with his kicks. / @FoxSports

Every now and then an NFL team will come up with something new in its game plan that will be immediately copied by everyone else in the league. That might happen again after Sunday's action when the rest of the league gets a chance to see what the Rams have been doing against the Eagles.

What's wild about this new move by the Rams is that it's their kicker that could have everyone making changes in what is usually a forgettable moment in NFL games.

Joshua Karty, who is in his second year in the league, has become a master of the knuckleball. All day long on kickoffs he has been sending balls down the field with very little spin that have been causing fits for Philadelphia's returners, who have been trying their best to corral these kicks that are not only tough to catch in the air, but also very difficult to field after they take a bounce off the turf.

Look at this collection of kicks by Karty:

The #Rams are cooking up knuckleballs on kickoffs and the #Eagles returners have no idea what to do with them.

This has been unbelievable to watch. pic.twitter.com/3A6LQSqkuJ

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 21, 2025

With the new kickoff rules, Karty's knuckleballs make it very difficult for the opposing team to not only field them, but then to pick up any significant yards after they are finally able to get possession of the ball.

Every kicker should try to mimic what Karty and the Rams have been able to do on Sunday.

Fans were in awe of it:

and just like that, the @RamsNFL broke the NFL KickOff smh https://t.co/NF2U4cX3Sn

— D’Matt 🧊 (@BackEndDeluxe) September 21, 2025

If you watched the inside blitz w/@tedsobelsports and @lasvegascris last Thursday, you knew this was coming. Ted INTERVIEWED PK Karty, and he gave out some secrets. Cris and @theoddsbreakers offered their insight.

LA has a high special team rating thus far in '25.
Kicking maters https://t.co/NVecWRiTbh

— Ron (@Ronacesports) September 21, 2025

This is the smartest way to approach the new rules https://t.co/mdxZkyWoej

— Papa Schro (@Papa_Schro) September 21, 2025

Oh my gosh what is this magic and how do we teach it to our special teams-minded HC so he can teach it to our special teams coordinator to teach our rookie kicker 🙆🏾‍♂️ https://t.co/FUOS3gqNyx

— Maher 🇵🇸 (@pabloikonyero) September 21, 2025

Yeah we need to do this starting this week https://t.co/1sgStDCfiY

— Protect The Legacy 🐏 (@RamilyOnly) September 21, 2025

Whoever thought of doing this play madden https://t.co/ZH0P79XvRA

— Just Trae✊🏿🤘🏿🤙🏿 (@trae__trae) September 21, 2025

This is top notch coaching https://t.co/EZSDobI9IC

— Larry Legend 📟 (@Larrylegend314_) September 21, 2025

---

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

feed