For most of this season, the Buccaneers have taken the same approach as most teams on kickoffs: Kick the ball into the landing zone and try to tackle the returner before he reaches the 35-yard line.

LAS VEGAS — Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler gets “a lot of freedom,” coach Matt Rhule said, to determine when his kickoff returners can take a ball out of the end zone.

The Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after they gave up a punt return touchdown that changed the momentum in Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks. But punt coverage wasn’t the only ...

The National Football League implemented new kickoff rules ahead of the 2025 season, hoping to see the rate of kickoff returns increase dramatically. The results paid off, with NFL kickoff stats for ...

Sam McKewon recaps the Las Vegas Bowl between Nebraska and Utah. LAS VEGAS — Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler gets “a lot of freedom,” coach Matt Rhule said, to determine when his ...