The Eagles’ proposal to replace the onside kick with a fourth-and-20 play was rejected by NFL teams during a recent league meeting. The proposed rule would have allowed teams to line up their offense on the field instead of kicking off after scoring a touchdown or field goal. Teams would have had the opportunity to convert a fourth-and-20 play from their own 20-yard line to keep possession of the ball.
Despite ongoing discussions around alternative options for the onside kick each offseason, proposals like the one put forth by the Eagles continue to face resistance from traditionalists within the league. Competition Committee Chairman, Rich McKay, acknowledged that more discussions on onside kick alternatives will be held in the future, despite the recent rejection of this particular proposal.
The NFL is considering implementing a low-impact kickoff rule similar to what was seen in the XFL. Once the kickoff rules for the 2024 season are determined, the league may revisit discussions on alternative options for the onside kick. For now, no changes have been made, and the traditional onside kick remains the standard for NFL games.