NFL's rule changes mostly have negative impact on Packers

The NFL voted to change some rules and not others, decisions that will probably hurt the Packers more than help.

This week, the NFL owners descended upon Minneapolis for the 2023 spring league meeting. That event annually produces some major developments for the football world, perhaps none more significant than the rule proposals on which the teams put to a vote or table for the future. This year proved no exception, with the owners approving a variety of rule changes and denials that will affect the upcoming season.

From the Green Bay Packers' perspective, none of these decisions seem likely to help their cause in 2023. Conversely, multiple could have a negative impact on the club's outlook.

New "fair catch" kickoff rule

NFL's description: "For one year only, puts the ball in play at the receiving team's 25-yard line if there is a fair catch on a free kick (kickoff and safety kick) behind the receiving team's 25-yard line."

Analysis: The NFL has now aligned its kickoff rule with college football. Returners can signal for a fair catch on any kickoff fitting the above description. While safer than the previous iteration of the kickoff, it leads to the aesthetically displeasing moments where the officials will whistle plays dead simultaneous to the ball crashing into the ground. The change also means even fewer kickoffs will lead to returns, making the play an even more vestigial relic of football's past.

Special-teams coaches across the league opposed this change, and the reason seems clear. The NFL has come another step closer to eliminating the kickoff altogether, further reducing that phase of the game and putting those involved with special teams at risk of losing future job opportunities.

Keep in mind, the NFL didn't have to do this. In 2020, the XFL created a kickoff rule that accomplished two goals: making the play safer for players and keeping those moments exciting for fans. The rule, named the "low-impact kickoff" by creator Sam Schwartzstein, should have become the new standard for the NFL. As Schwartzstein noted on social media, the rule led to zero injuries during that league's 2020 season as well as a 90% return rate.

Perhaps the NFL will eventually adopt a version of Schwartzstein's rule. However, the league can't seem to get out of its own way when it comes to these matters.

Effect on Packers: Keisean Nixon, the Packers' first-team All-Pro return man, will see fewer opportunities to impact the game as the number of returnable kickoffs dwindles. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't seem to care much for the rule change.