Chiefs’ Andy Reid says the NFL could turn into “flag football” as rule changes keep coming
The NFL’s latest change to kickoff didn’t sit well with future Hall of Fame head coach Andy Reid.
Reid, who led the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowl wins in the past four seasons, is a special team fan. Although he put player safety first, he saw this rule, which would allow teams to shoot kickoffs and safe kicks fairly and put them on the 25-yard line, as the path to “flag football”.
“My thing is, where does it stop, right?” Reid told the NFL Network. “We’re starting to take pieces and we’ll see how it goes. But you don’t want to take too many pieces, or you’re going to be playing flag football.”
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid faces the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Player safety has become of the utmost importance to the league, and kickoffs have long been a topic of conversation due to the tendency to see someone injured when the whistle is blown at the end of a game.
“We can’t just sit around and do nothing,” Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications, public affairs, and policy, told Yahoo Sports. “Sitting still and continuing to do nothing is unacceptable. And I think that’s where membership comes in on this.”
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The league found that kickoffs result in the league’s highest concussion rate, so based on the trial run for the season, the NFL will see how this new rule works, essentially rendering kickoffs useless unless the returnee really wants to test his luck running it. back, can curb concussion rates.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid celebrates with the Lamar Hunt Trophy after winning the AFC NFL Championship football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Ground at Arrowhead Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Reid’s status as one of the most respected head coaches and overall football thinkers in the game certainly carries weight.
However, the game has also evolved since he stepped in as coach, including new steps to protect quarterbacks, getting rid of crackback blocks, and many other rules that make play safer.
Then again, Reid is showing a line he hopes not to cross where the physical nature of the NFL is eradicated, which is where some believe the game will eventually go.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks to the media during the Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability prior to Super Bowl LVII at the Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch on February 7, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
For now, Reid will have to comply with these new rules and any other regulations that may come into force.