The NFL is rolling out significant changes to its kickoff format this upcoming season and it’s likely going to change the way teams approach the play. And the Kansas City Chiefs are already considering making a pretty groundbreaking change to protect kicker Harrison Butker.
According to a report from Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride, the Kansas City Chiefs are considering using a position player instead of Harrison Butker on kickoffs because kickers will have to make tackles more often in the new kickoff format and they want to protect Butker.
“The #Chiefs are serious about having Justin Reid or Louis Rees-Zammit kick off (they were working there today). Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said that as they watched the XFL, they noticed the kicker involved in 25-40% of tackles. They don’t want that for Harrison Butker,” Sweeney said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
The #Chiefs are serious about having Justin Reid or Louis Rees-Zammit kick off (they were working there today). Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said that as they watched the XFL, they noticed the kicker involved in 25-40% of tackles. They don't want that for Harrison Butker.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) May 30, 2024
Obviously, Butker has established himself as one of the best and most consistent field goal kickers in the league, so the team does not necessarily want to risk him injuring himself on a kickoff play if that can be at all avoided.
We’ll have to see whether or not this is a move the Chiefs actually decide to make.
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