Report: Onside Kick Alternative Proposal Gaining Support

Support across the NFL is growing for a proposed rule change that would provide an alternative to the onside kick, according to a report by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

NFL clubs today received updated playing rules change proposals.

Most interesting: an alternative to the onside kick that would allow a team a chance to maintain possession by going for it on 4th-and-15 from their 25-yard line. Sounds like support for the idea is growing.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 21, 2020

The alternative to the onside kick would instead give teams the opportunity to convert a fourth-and-15 from their own 25-yard line as a method of maintaining possession. Teams would only be allowed to choose this method twice per game.

The proposal for an onside kick substitute was submitted by the Philadelphia Eagles, one of four rule changes introduced by the franchise back in April. The Eagles have since withdrawn two of those proposals. One would have modified the blindside block rule, the other aimed to restore the overtime period to 15 minutes and minimize the impact of the coin toss.

According to Pelissero, teams would still have the option of attempting a traditional onside kick, but given their low conversion rate, the league has been exploring alternatives for quite some time. Similar versions of the rule change have been tested in the Pro Bowl and in the AAF.

Worth noting: A team would still be permitted to attempt a traditional onside kick. But with other rules changes making those harder than ever to recover, the NFL has been looking at alternatives, including experimenting with this rule the Pro Bowl. The AAF did similar. https://t.co/AAJvBoxB5F

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 21, 2020

The onside kick alternative is one of seven rule changes that clubs will vote on during the league’s second round of virtual meetings next week.