NFL's latest kickoff rules test Titans' special teams | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Tennessee Titans special teams is being tested after mixed results on kickoffs, even with a respected coordinator and a kicker with a strong leg. Coach Robert Saleh said the team must improve at getting opponents to return kicks, covering them, and building advantageous situations. Tennessee ranks last with 66.7% touchbacks, while the league averages 16.8%; Carolina is next-highest at 38.5%. Opponents start from the 37-yard line on average, tied with Miami for the NFL’s worst mark (30.8 league average). The NFL made the dynamic kickoff permanent after owners voted in April 2025, raising the end-zone touchback spot from the 30 to the 35. Saleh and coordinator John Fassel credited Joey Slye’s ground-hugging “dirty ball,” but pointed to a “cold foot” and execution problems heading into Sunday at the New York Giants.