The Extra Point How the New Dynamic Kickoff Performed in the 2024 Preseason

How the New Dynamic Kickoff Performed in the 2024 Preseason

August 27, 2024

After much anticipation, the NFL’s new Dynamic Kickoff debuted this preseason. Fans have experienced fresh strategy and excitement with the play’s designated landing zone, updated player alignment, and plays that begin only after the ball is caught or hits the ground.

Last spring, our analytics team analyzed XFL data to predict outcomes. After watching 49 games and 420 new kickoffs this preseason, here’s what we discovered:

• More Kickoff Returns: Nearly 300 kickoffs were returned this preseason, resulting in a 70.5% return rate — the highest since 2014. For comparison, last year’s return rate was 54.8%. This increase contributed to more big plays, with 18 returns over 40 yards, also the most since 2014.
• Better Drive Start: On all kickoff plays, the average drive start for the return team was the 28.8 yard-line, a 4.6-yard increase from 2023 and a 4.1-yard increase from 2022. On kickoffs that were returned, the average drive start was the 28.0 yard-line.
• Kickers as Tacklers: Kickers registered 11.5 tackles plus assists according to the official NFL game stats report, which is up from 4 in 2023 and 6 in 2022. Most of that increase was driven by extra returns — more returns lead to more tackle plays. Kickers were involved in 3.6 tackles per 100 returns in 2024 versus 3.1 in 2023 and 2.9 in 2022. 

Finally, here’s a strategic tip: kicking teams should aim to place the ball at the back of the landing zone.

Using data on where the ball lands, here’s a chart showing the resulting field position by kickoff land location. 

Kicks landing in the back of the landing zone — between the 1- and 5-yard lines — resulted in an average drive start from the 27.4-yard line. Kicks to the middle of the landing zone — between the 6- and 10-yard lines — led to an average drive start around the 30-yard line. Therefore, kicking deeper into the landing zone was, on average, a few yards better for the kicking team this past preseason.