As soon as the NFL announced that it had approved a new rule change for 2023 that would enable kickoff returners to call for a fair catch and allow the offense to start with the ball at the 25-yard line, the football world had plenty of strong reactions. Now, the world’s premier football league is catching flak from one of its competitors: the USFL.
The nascent league, which is currently in the second season of its current iteration, posted a strong response defending the traditional kickoff, which it views as a path to the NFL for many players. The NFL’s new rule is similar to the kickoff rule in college football.
USFL is proud to keep “special” in special teams with traditional kickoffs that maintain player safety. Many USFL players see a @NFL path through ST play. @USFL innovative rules provide opportunity for players to deliver exciting, game-changing big plays to fans. https://t.co/jIPw0J94tX
— USFL Comms (@USFLcomms) May 24, 2023
