Chiefs’ Harrison Butker may be removed from kickoffs due to new NFL rules

Harrison Butker, a kicker, may be relieved of kickoff responsibilities by the Kansas City Chiefs for the forthcoming

campaign. However, his recent contentious remarks during a commencement speech that garnered national

attention have nothing to do with the decision.

Any ball kicked into the “landing zone” between the goal line and the 20-yard line must be returned, according to the

new regulations that were put into effect in March. Fair catches are over. It is necessary to return or down a ball for a

touchback if it bounces from the landing zone into the end zone.

Kickers may find themselves in a situation where they must tackle during a kickoff return more frequently if there is

more action with genuine returns. Speaking to reporters at OTAs on Thursday, Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub

clarified that the team’s plan is to get the ball on the ground away from the opponent’s kick returner so that

defenders can chase before someone scoops it up.

More significantly, Toub pointed out that the XFL’s new regulations and ensuing approach encourage the kicker to

make a tackle more frequently.

“If you watch the XFL, we watched every play,” stated Toub. “I bet kickers were involved in probably at least 25 to

40% of the tackles, you know, either trying to make a guy bounce back or making the tackle itself or just missing the

tackle.”

Toub doesn’t want Butker to have to make tackles a lot during the season in those conditions. With safety Justin Reid

as the emergency kicker, the Chiefs are fortunately already prepared to handle this situation.

During the 2022–23 season, Reid filled in at kicker for seven kickoffs (with five touchbacks) and two extra points in

Kansas City’s Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

Reid should improve kickoff coverage, Toub continued. In addition, opponents cannot direct a return towards a

regular kicker who would not be able to make a play against blockers and ballcarriers, and he is used to pursuing and

tackling as a safety.

“Justin is able to cover. He could kick, for example, and then go down there and make tackles,” Toub remarked. He’s

an extra man that they’re probably not taking into consideration, you know. They have to be concerned about a

player like Justin, even if they know that guy can go down and tackle. He needs to be stopped, and you must stop

blocking other people.

It will be interesting to see how other NFL teams respond to the new kickoff regulations this season since they aren’t

as prepared for the circumstance as the Chiefs are.