The new NFL kickoff, optimistically titled the "Dynamic Kickoff" by the competition committee this offseason, made its regular season debut this week as the 2024 season gets underway. Introduced in an effort to encourage more returns on kickoffs without sacrificing player safety, the new setup hasn't achieved the desired results. In fact, it seems as though it is having the opposite effect. Teams appear more willing than ever to simply boot the kickoff out of the end zone and accept a touchback rather than risk a big return.
Whether by design or mistake, there are still returns though. And sometimes they go terribly wrong, as evidenced by the Chicago Bears' Week 1 contest against the Tennessee Titans.
After the defense gave up a big Tony Pollard run to give the Titans their first touchdown and a 7-0 lead, both teams lined up for the dynamic kickoff. Tennessee booted it to the one-yard line, where Bears wideout Velus Jones was ready to get a return off. Instead, Jones muffed the kickoff and then kicked it directly towards the Titans' kickoff team, resulting in the funniest turnover of the young NFL season.
Behold:
Watch this ball roll. A muffed kick return gives Tennessee the ball back!
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
📺: #TENvsCHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/MqmAR44KRx
A tough break for Chicago. Also very funny.
Feel bad for Velus Jones, but the dots on his fumble are incredible. pic.twitter.com/Zn0ZBczajk
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 8, 2024
There have been myriad mistakes made throughout the preseason on this dynamic kickoff. But none as significant, or amusing, as this. The Bears have officially produced the first Not Top 10 lowlight of the new kickoff era.
Fortunately for Chicago the defense managed to hold up despite the field position Tennessee enjoyed and the Titans came away with three points after recovering the fumble to go up 10-0.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Bears Hilariously Botched NFL’s New-Look Kickoff With Brutal Turnover.
