NFL Owners Table Alternative Onside Kick Proposal

The NFL did not pass a proposal that would have provided an alternative to the onside kick during Thursday’s second round of virtual league meetings, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

Per source, the onside kick proposal did NOT pass.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 28, 2020

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the proposal has been tabled for further discussion at a later date.

NFL owners have tabled the 4th-and-15 alternative to the onside kick, I’m told. Further discussion needed.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 28, 2020

Since the league instituted changes to kickoffs two years ago to improve player safety, onside kicks have become less and less successful, prompting support for an alternative with better odds.

According to NFL Director of Data and Analytics Michael Lopez, “teams are 0-104 when attempting an expected onside kick.”

Other notes:
– There's a penalty on about 18% of onside kicks, by far the highest rate of all play types
– Teams attempting an onsides kick have won about 2% of the time since 2003. In last two years, teams are 0-and-104 when attempting an expected onside kick

— Michael Lopez (@StatsbyLopez) May 28, 2020

The proposal would give teams the option to try and convert a 4th-and-15 to retain possession instead of attempting a traditional onside kick. This alternative would only be available to use twice per game.

With league owners opting to table to proposal, it appears that there is still interest in finding an onside kick alternate, but that the league wants further exploration into the 4th-and-15 try or other innovative options.