Darren Rizzi: Special teams coaches want NFL to change rule for holders on kickoffs

Published October 2, 2026 07:31 AM Broncos special teams coach Darren Rizzi says his colleagues around the league almost all agree that holders should be allowed on kickoffs only if the wind is blowing the ball off the tee, and not to give the kicking team an advantage by placing the ball at an unusual angle.Under the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule, a 12th player can take the field as a holder on kickoffs, with our without the use of a tee, as long as the holder runs off the field immediately after the ball is kicked. Rizzi says the intent of the rule was to allow the kicking team to ensure the ball would stay in the tee on windy days, but the Eagles gained attention in Week 2 for using a holder just to hold the ball on the ground at an odd angle, which changes the trajectory of the kick and makes it harder to return.Rizzi helped organize a conference call of special teams coordinators and said almost everyone agreed that the NFL should change the way the rule is officiated so that kickoffs are on a tee and holders are for weather conditions, not creating an advantage for the kicker.“We don’t want the ball on the edge, we don’t want the ball on the ground, we don’t want the ball held sideways. We want just a regular kickoff,” Rizzi said. “That’s kind of what was discussed amongst the coordinators. If we’re not unanimous, we’re darn close to it, the way we feel about it. That’s why you saw some holders come out to start the game. And that’s really not the intent. It’s a work in progress. It hasn’t been remedied yet.”Rizzi said there’s no question the kicking team benefits from using the holder. “There’s definitely an advantage from the kicker’s standpoint because the different angles you can create with the ball,” Rizzi said. “That’s fine if you want to kick one of those knuckleballs or dirty balls with the ball in a tee, have at it. Adding the 12th player to create an advantage is something we want to stay away from.”The rules allow for the holder, but Rizzi would like to see an administrative change similar to the one the NFL made during the 2022 season, when the Raiders were told they had to stop using a holder to place the football on top of the tee, rather than in the tee. Rizzi said he believes the NFL will do that.“It’s a small little thing that created a big problem.” Rizzi said. “I think we’re gonna get it resolved.”