The NFL recently made a change to kickoff rules, which mirrors the same rule in college football. Teams will be allowed to start at their own 25-yard line if they elect to fair-catch a kickoff inside the 25.
While Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower was surprised by the rule change, he understands the aim to enhance player safety.
“The rule is the rule,” Hightower said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “Before it, like water under the bridge now honestly. Coach (Matt Eberflus) has kind of already spoken on it in terms of what he thinks is going to happen. We’ve discussed as a staff what we think the rule is going do in terms of us basically schematically planning for it. That’s really where we are in the situation right now.
“Health and safety is the number one priority for us, the NFL, for everyone. At this point, what we are trying to do is trying to figure out strategically how to attack the situation and the best ways to win the ball game.”
The amendment to the rule has been met with outrage across the league, where a fundamental aspect of the game could become obsolete. But Hightower does believe the NFL is coming from the right place. If anything, this one-year trial run will give us an idea if it’s sustainable for the long run.
“I think the league is trying to do the right thing,” Hightower said. “We’re all trying to do the right thing. We all care about our players. It’s a trial run and then they’ll vote on it again. And then we’ll see. But ultimately, it’s in the returners’ hands.”
