NFL kickoff rule change fails to win fans over: "No Fun League strikes again"

One of the greatest plays in NFL history occurred during Super Bowl XLIV when the New Orleans Saints attempted an onside kick at the start of the second half. This surprising tactic helped the Saints recover possession of the ball and ultimately secure a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, who had been leading 10-6 at halftime. Such a daring play is unlikely to happen in the future.

According to the new NFL kickoff rule, teams must announce their intention to attempt an onside kick ahead of time. Additionally, onside kicks are illegal before the fourth quarter and a team must be losing to attempt one.

Fans on social media weren't happy about the new kickoff rules.

"Horrendous. Takes the fun element of surprise every once and a while out of the game," one fan wrote.

"Must announce intentions. Might as well have every team put up their next play on the Jumbotron from now on," one person joked about the new rule change.

"Why touch a rule that hasn't been a problem?" one person asked.

There are two main reasons for attempting an onside kick. One is to try to either take the lead late in the game or cut the lead if a team is losing. Another is to surprise the opposing team.

"Might as well put in flag football rules. This league continues to get softer and softer everyday," one person said about the rule change.

"The NFL way of messing things up in the most NFL way possible," one fan wrote.

"Lame. The Steelers' surprise onside kick in Super Bowl XXX that got them back in the game and made it an exciting game couldn't have happened then. This is over-legislating," one fan said.

Surprise onside kick now dead following new rule change from NFL

New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts, Super Bowl XLIV—Source: Getty

With the NFL's new rules regarding onside kicks, the surprise onside kick is now officially dead. A team can no longer line up and surprise fans and the opposing team with a short, powerless 10-yard kick.

There have been two successful onside kick recoveries in Super Bowl history. As mentioned above, the New Orleans Saints recovered an onside kick while trailing the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers successfully recovered one against the Dallas Cowboys.

There has been no clear explanation as to why the league changed the rules for onside kicks. One could speculate that they are attempting to limit injuries on surprising plays that abruptly bring hard contact. Either way, it seems like the only ones who benefit from the rule change are teams that are up since they know an onside kick will be coming their way.