Understanding the new 2025 NFL “DYNAMIC” kickoff (Copy)

Written By The XO Bros

The 2025 NFL season brings with a new set of rules and this includes a new DYNAMIC kickoff format.

Here’s what to know:

  • The Kicker kicks from their 35 yard line while the rest of the kicking team lines up with one foot on the opponents 40 yard line.

    • For safety’s the kicker starts at their 20 yard line.

  • The Receiving team lines up with 9 players in the SETUP ZONE, which is between their 30-35 yard line with at least 6 of those players placing a foot on the 35 yard line, and distributed in a specific way outside numbers, between numbers and hashes, and between the hashes. 3 players can be off the 35 yard line, between the 30 and 35, and only two or fewer can be in the landing zone (from 0-20 yards).

The kicking team cannot move (aside from the kicker, who can’t cross the 50 yard line) until the ball hits the ground or is caught.

Touchbacks:

  • Kicks short of the landing zone are treated as “out” and are marked at the opponents 40.

  • Kicks that land in the endzone (beyond the landing zone) are marked at the opponents 35. Same applies if they are caught and downed there, or if going out the back of the endzone.

  • Kicks that land into the landing zone must be caught and returned or downed.

  • If the ball lands in the landing zone and goes into the endzone it can be downed to start at the 35 (new in 2025), or returned.

  • If the ball lands in the landing zone then goes out of bounds in the landing zone, the ball is marked at the 20 yard line.

  • If the ball lands in the landing zone then goes out of bounds in the end zone, the ball is marked at the 35 yard line.

Onside Kicks:

  • Can now be declared any time a team is behind.

The XO Bros