A SAFETY call in the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars completely baffled NFL fans – as well as several people on the field.
Seemingly confused by the new kickoff rules, Chiefs wide receiver Nicole Hardman gave up two points in the last second of the first half of the matchup.
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Jaguars kicker Cam Little kicked from the 65-yard line with 26 seconds left before halftime.
The ball landed in the end zone, then bounced off the ground and crossed the goal line again.
Hardman ran into the end zone and knelt to down the ball at Jacksonville’s one-yard line.
The officials initially called a touchback, causing Jaguars head coach Doug Peterson to protest.
After a review, the refs changed the ruling and said the Jags scored a safety.
Interestingly, the league’s website claimed that Hardman was “tackled” in the end zone for a loss of one yard even though he knelt voluntarily with no Jacksonville players around.
NFL fans had trouble understanding the reasoning behind the decision.
“Weirdest #safety in #Jaguars history?” one asked on X.
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“New NFL kickoff rules strike! This is a safety (was originally ruled a touchback),” another wrote.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING!?” a third posted.
“This new kick-off rule is absolutely ridiculous! Who the HELL thought this was a good idea!? I am saying this way b4 the reciever was in endzone and gave Jaguars a safety! Soooo stupid!” one said.
The wording of the new kickoff rule is far from being clear.
“Kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds – returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line,” the NFL’s operations website says.
League officials claimed kickoff rule changes came because of concerns for players’ safety.
What is the Hybrid Kickoff rule?
The NFL is seeking to revitalize kickoffs by increasing returns and reducing injuries.
The league is considering adopting a kickoff style similar to one used in the XFL, among sweeping changes.
If adopted, the rules would be implemented on a year-long trial.
The proposal features new alignments for the both the kicking and receiving units.
The receiving team is limited to playing a maximum of two returners in the “landing zone,” the area between the team’s goal line and the 20-yard line.
All kickoffs in the landing zone must be returned by receivers.
Kicks that miss the landing zone will result in the ball being played at the 20-, 30- or 40-yard line.
The rule is designed to incentivize kickers to kick a returnable ball.
“No one wants to get rid of special teams,” NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said earlier this year.
“Special teams is a critical part of our game.
“And yet, because of health and safety, we’ve had to modify many times over the years.
“We now need to find a way to try to revolutionize the rule, if we can, in a way to get the kick return back in the game.”
Around the same time, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated that the league wants the kickoff to remain part of the game.
“It’s an exciting play, it’s important for us, the same as punts, but when you see a higher injury rate for that play, you can’t ignore that.”
