A modest change to the NFL's kickoff rules made a massive impact on Week 1, producing the highest single-week return rate in 15 years.

In the league's first slate of regular-season games since the touchback was moved to the 35-yard line, teams returned 118 of 156 kickoffs for a 75.6% return rate. The last time the NFL had a higher return rate for a single week was Week 17 of the 2010 season.

Last weekend's games were particularly rare compared to other recent opening weeks. The last time the NFL had a return rate higher than 50% in Week 1 also was 2010 (78.1%).

The NFL overhauled its kickoff prior to the 2024 season after more than a decade of declining return rates, caused largely by rule changes that incentivized teams to pursue touchbacks and lower the number of concussions and other

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