National Football League (NFL) “Dynamic Kickoff” Rule Change: A Comparative Analysis of Concussion and Musculoskeletal Injury Incidence

Our study showed that after the 2024 NFL kickoff rules were implemented, there was a significant increase in overall, lower extremity, and upper extremity injuries compared with the previous 2 seasons, as measured by the number of kickoffs and returns per year. The overall effect of the 2024 NFL kickoff rules on the incidence of concussions remains unclear when compared with the previous 2 seasons, as there was an increase in the incidence of concussions compared with 2023 and a decrease in the incidence of concussions compared with 2022. The kickoff remains an essential component of the game and still presents a challenge, as it is a play with a high injury rate.