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NFL’s Kickoff Rule Tweak Sparks Sharp Rise in Concussions

The NFL’s 2025 kickoff tweak, shifting touchbacks to the 35 and boosting return rates from 31.7% to 79.3%, has triggered a major spike in concussions. League data shows 1.48 concussions per 100 kickoffs, up from 0.29 last year and five times the scrimmage-play average. While the league awaits “more data,” the change highlights a long-standing truth: the kickoff overhaul was always about preventing catastrophic neck injuries.