In the most recent NFL league meeting, the Eagles’ proposal to replace the onside kick with a fourth-and-20 play was rejected by the teams. This proposed rule would have enabled teams to line up their offense directly on the field following a touchdown or field goal instead of kicking off. Teams would have had the chance to convert a fourth-and-20 play from their own 20-yard line in order to retain possession of the ball.
Despite ongoing discussions around alternative options for onside kicks during each offseason, proposals like the one put forth by the Eagles continue to face opposition from traditionalists within the league. Nevertheless, Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay acknowledged that more talks on onside kick alternatives will be held in the future, even though this particular proposal was ultimately rejected.
One of the major concerns for the NFL is the future of the kickoff as a whole, with potential changes on the horizon. The league is currently considering implementing a low-impact kickoff rule similar to what was seen in the XFL. Once the kickoff rules for the 2024 season are established, it may be revisited discussions on alternative options for onside kicks. For now, no changes have been made and traditional onside kicks remain standard for NFL games.
