NFL: Touchback Line 'Not Likely' to Move amid Kickoff Rule Change; Will 'Evaluate It'

The touchback line is likely to stay at the 30-yard line.

During a conference call with NFL reporters on Monday, NFL chief administrator of football operations Dawn Aponte said that it is "not likely" that the league would consider moving the touchback line up to the 35-yard line prior to the start of the 2024 NFL season.

"It would be not likely," Aponte said, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. "[T]he way we passed this and discussed it with the Competition Committee as well as membership at large was really about continuing to evaluate. It is a one-year rule change, so we anticipate to evaluation this throughout the season. As we know, as things progress through the preseason, they are very possible that we will see some changes as we head into the regular season. So we will continue to monitor it. We will continue to discuss it and evaluate it."

The touchback line used to be at the 25-yard line but it was moved up to the 30 as a par of the revamped kickoff that has debuted this preseason. Florio reported that the average starting field position from this preseason has been at the 28.3-yard line, so the incentive to risk a potential return touchdown for minimal yards may not be very high.

Teams may still be figuring out the logistics of the new kickoff for several weeks during the 2024 season. The rule is only approved for one year and will be re-evaluated following the season.

The owners are scheduled to have a meeting on Aug. 27. The kickoff rule is not expected to be discussed, but that would be an opportunity for the owners to discuss a change in the touchback line.