As the NFL season approaches, one of the most significant changes fans will witness is a new kickoff rule designed to enhance both excitement and player safety. The rule, developed using artificial intelligence (AI), aims to transform what had become a monotonous aspect of the game—kickoffs that almost always resulted in touchbacks—into a more dynamic and engaging play while reducing the risk of injury to players.
The New Kickoff Rule: What’s Changing?
In the upcoming season, the NFL will implement a new kickoff rule where the defensive and offensive players stand just five yards apart, unable to move until the ball hits the ground or is caught by a player. This modification is designed to reduce high-speed collisions that have historically led to injuries and diminish the number of touchbacks that have become increasingly common in recent years. For example, during the last Super Bowl, all 13 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, making the play feel more ceremonial than strategic.
The league’s goal is to make kickoffs more exciting and relevant by encouraging more returns while maintaining a safer environment for players. This change comes after years of declining return rates, dropping from three out of four kicks being returned 25 years ago to just two out of ten today. According to NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller, “Instead of watching the kickoff, you’re off getting your pretzels or snacks, and you’re not watching—that’s not a great fan experience.”
Leveraging AI for Player Safety
The development of this new rule was driven by AI, a tool the NFL has been using to analyze player safety and predict injuries. Through its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the league created a “Digital Athlete” initiative that utilizes data collected from various sensors in players’ shoulder pads, cameras, and other equipment to model different game scenarios. This AI-driven model allows the NFL to simulate thousands of potential plays, assess injury risks, and determine safer ways to conduct specific plays, such as the kickoff.
The Digital Athlete initiative collects and processes a wealth of data, including player speeds, positions, types of plays, and impacts, to build a comprehensive picture of a player’s experience on the field. This data is used by all 32 NFL clubs to monitor players’ health and safety and make informed decisions about training and practice regimes. “We now have a model that all 32 clubs use in their locker rooms when they look at how players practice and get ready for the season,” Miller explained.
AI and the Future of Injury Prevention
While AI is not yet a clinical tool, it has the potential to play a critical role in injury prevention. The Digital Athlete initiative already tracks every head impact on the field for every player in every game, allowing teams to monitor players who may be at risk of concussion or other injuries. Though decisions are currently made by independent doctors working with team physicians, AI could someday help evaluate injuries in real-time, offering insights beyond what a doctor can observe.
For example, AI might provide data to suggest that a player who has taken an abnormal number of head impacts should be pulled back from practice or monitored more closely by a physician. “It’s not a clinical tool to diagnose anything yet, but the day could come when we’ll have a pretty good idea of what players are at risk,” Miller noted.
A New Era of Football
The NFL’s use of AI to drive changes in the game represents a new era in sports technology, one where data and machine learning help shape the rules and strategies for safer, more exciting play. As the season kicks off with these new rules, fans can look forward to seeing how these innovations unfold on the field and contribute to a more engaging and safer experience for everyone involved.