A kickoff can look like a brief pause before the “real” action starts. In practice, it’s a high-stakes play: one team launches the ball downfield, the other tries to return it, and the result can give an offense a long field—or pin it deep near its own goal line.
What a kickoff does
A kickoff begins each half and restarts play after most scoring plays. The kicking team sends the ball toward its opponent, which fields it and either returns it or takes possession under the rules for a touchback. Unlike a punt, a kickoff is made from a tee or the ground without a snap, and the receiving team is prepared to run the ball back.
After a touchdown, the scoring team usually kicks off after the try (the extra-point kick or two-point attempt). A field goal is also generally followed by a kickoff. A safety is the main exception: the team that gave up the safety must give the ball back with a free kick, which may be a punt, drop kick or placekick.
How an NFL kickoff works
NFL kickoffs use a format designed to create more returns while limiting high-speed collisions. The kicker starts at the team’s 35-yard line. Most of the kicking team lines up near the receiving team’s 40, while the receiving team arranges players in a setup zone farther downfield. One or two returners wait deep to field the kick.
Once the ball is kicked, most players in those setup areas must hold their positions until the ball is caught or hits the ground. That delay gives the returner a moment to judge the flight and gives the coverage and blocking units a chance to meet at lower speeds than in the old, full-field sprint. The exact setup and enforcement details are NFL-specific; college and high school football use different kickoff rules.
The returner can run the ball toward the other end zone, but the play ends when the ball carrier is tackled, goes out of bounds, scores, or the ball becomes dead under a kickoff rule. A return may also end without a tackle—for example, when the ball is downed in the end zone for a touchback.
What is a touchback?
A touchback ends the kickoff without a return. The receiving team takes possession at a set yard line rather than where the ball was caught. The placement depends on the league and on how the kick reached the end zone. In the NFL’s 2025 rules, a touchback after a kick is downed in the end zone gives the receiving team the ball at its 35-yard line.
On an NFL kickoff, a ball that lands in the landing zone—the area between the receiving team’s goal line and its 20-yard line—must be returned. If it reaches the end zone, the returner can bring it out or down it for a touchback. A kick that falls short of the landing zone is handled differently and generally gives the receiving team a favorable starting spot. These distinctions are one reason a kickoff’s flight and bounce matter, not just its distance.
For example, a kicker may aim for a spot that forces the returner to field the ball near the sideline, where the coverage team can limit the available lanes. A deep kick may look safer, but if it gives the opponent a touchback, the receiving offense starts farther upfield than it might after a well-placed returnable kick. Rules and touchback spots can change, so check the relevant league’s current rules when comparing NFL, college and high school play.
Why teams use different kickoff strategies
The kicking team is balancing distance, placement and coverage. A high, controlled kick can give coverage players time to get downfield. A kick aimed toward one side may steer the return into a crowded area. Coaches also weigh the risk of a return against the field position their opponent would receive after a touchback.
The return team has its own decisions to make. Returners read the ball’s height, direction and depth while blockers set up lanes. They may choose to bring out a kick that lands in a useful spot, even if it means facing a tackle before reaching the 25 or 30. A returner should also judge when to stay put: taking a kick out of the end zone can expose the offense to a worse starting position if the return is stopped early.
Kickoffs also shape game management. A team leading late may value a reliable kick that makes a return difficult. A team trailing may accept more risk in pursuit of a long return or an onside kick. On an onside kick, the kicking team deliberately sends the ball a short distance and tries to recover it. The ball must generally travel at least 10 yards before the kicking team can recover it, unless a receiving player touches it first. The opportunity to attempt one—and the required procedure—depends on the league’s rules.
Kickoff compared with a punt
Both plays send the ball downfield, but they happen in different situations. A kickoff starts a half or follows a score. A punt usually comes on fourth down when a team gives up possession to improve its field position. On a punt, the ball is snapped to the punter, who drops it and kicks it; on a kickoff, the kicker starts with the ball set for the kick. Coverage and return tactics matter in both, but the formations and rules are not interchangeable.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does a kickoff happen?
It begins each half and usually follows a touchdown or field goal. After a safety, the team that conceded the points gives the opponent a free kick instead.
Can the receiving team run back every kickoff?
No. A touchback ends the play and gives the receiving team the ball at a prescribed spot. In the NFL’s current format, a kick that lands in the landing zone must be returned, while a ball reaching the end zone may be downed for a touchback.
What is an onside kick?
It is a short kickoff designed to give the kicking team a chance to recover the ball and keep possession. The kick must generally travel 10 yards before the kicking team can recover it, unless the receiving team touches it first. League rules govern when and how it can be attempted.
Is the kickoff setup the same in every league?
No. The NFL, college football and high school football have different alignment, touchback and procedure rules. The general purpose is the same, but details such as kickoff placement and return rules vary.
Final Thoughts
A kickoff is more than a long kick to start play. It is a field-position contest built around placement, blocking, coverage and the returner’s judgment. Watch where the ball lands, how the coverage unit closes in and whether the returner brings it out, and you’ll see how the play can influence the next drive before the offense even takes the field.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.