The NFL hoped a major change to its kickoff rules would result in greater player safety – and perhaps more important – additional excitement this season.
So far during the opening weekend of regular-season games, the early returns (ahem) are positive.
Midway through the fourth quarter in Buffalo, Arizona Cardinals return man DeeJay Dallas entered his name into the history books, taking a kickoff against the Bills 96 yards for the first touchdown of the ‘dynamic kickoff’ era.
Although many NFL teams seemed to be content to continue kicking the ball through the end zone and give the returning team the ball at the 30-yard-line. However, strong winds in Buffalo may have been a factor in Dallas getting his historic opportunity.
According to the NFL, the new rules were partly in response to the lowest kickoff return rate in NFL history during the 2023 season.
PLAY TO WIN $5K: USA TODAY’s Pro Football Survivor Pool is free to enter. Sign up now!
In his fifth NFL season, Dallas signed with the Cardinals this offseason after playing the previous four years with the Seattle Seahawks.
Though he returned both kickoffs and punts during his tenure in Seattle, Dallas never took one back for a touchdown.
