As NFL Week 15 concluded last season, the statistics surrounding one of the game's most storied plays, the onside kick, painted a grim picture. Out of 41 attempts, only a mere three resulted in successful recoveries, a paltry recovery rate of just 7.3 percent. Such figures underscore the struggle teams face when executing these high-stakes plays that can dramatically alter the course of a game.
At the heart of this very issue sits a league-wide debate that has been brewing for several years: Is it time to modify, or even replace, the onside kick altogether? NFL officials have not been silent on this matter, with their ongoing exploration of alternative options designed to maintain the excitement and fairness integral to the sport.
The Fourth-and-20 Proposal
Among the alternatives considered is the fourth-and-20 play, a proposal that has repeatedly captured the attention of the NFL's competition committee and the league's owners. This concept would allow teams the chance to retain possession by successfully converting a fourth-and-long scenario. Despite the potential this rule holds for injecting excitement back into the game's waning moments, it has been voted down on multiple occasions, in 2019, 2020, 2021, and most recently in 2024.
The consistency of these denials reflects the complex balance the NFL must strike between innovation and tradition, as well as the safety and strategic depth of the game. Troy Vincent, the NFL's Executive Vice President of Football Operations, has been a chief voice in this dialogue. "We need to look at that," Vincent has stated in reference to the onside kick. "That's a dead play. That is a ceremonial play. Very low recovery rate."
Origins and Support
The journey of the fourth-and-20 proposal is marked by notable influences. "It's something that started back with, if I'm not mistaken, John Elway... over the previous three or four years, Philadelphia [has proposed it]," Vincent mentioned, highlighting the historical journey and evolving support for the proposal. "It has garnered [support]... there has been progress."
This progress raises the question: If the current recovery rates and rules render the onside kick ineffective, what factors are needed to bring a viable alternative to fruition within the league? Vincent suggests creativity and ingenuity from coaches as pivotal elements. "Our coaches, they can be creative enough to come up with a good, solid, competitive play to bring some excitement back in those situations," he noted.
A Direction Forward
The challenge remains to design a play that retains the tension and unpredictability so beloved by fans, while also addressing the strategic limitations of the current onside kick structure. Currently, teams can only attempt onside kicks if they are trailing in the fourth quarter and must notify opponents beforehand, adding another layer of strategy and predictability undermining the play's effectiveness.
Looking forward, Vincent emphasized the broader context of these discussions, which often occur during the offseason. "When we look at the kickoff and maybe where the touchback area should be during the offseason, we need to revisit the onside kick," he advised, indicating that future discussions might hold the key to revamping or replacing this ceremonial play.
As the NFL continues to evaluate its in-game mechanics, the onside kick issue exemplifies the complexity of evolving a storied sport to meet contemporary expectations. The journey towards a solution that enhances both player safety and game-day excitement continues, with league officials and coaches alike tasked with crafting plays capable of maintaining the high stake thrills that define NFL moments.