Changes with onside kicks
Of note, teams are now allowed to declare an onside kick at any time in the game. Previously, it was only during the fourth quarter and when trailing. This does still require teams to declare the decision, something adopted ahead of the 2024 season, but now they can do so at any point in the game.
The Panthers completed the first successful onside kick of the 2025 season, when trailing against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Knowing that he has the special teams unit to pull it off, head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday at league meetings that he and game management coordinator George Li have already examined how this new rule might change the game.
“Not necessarily from a depth chart standpoint,” Canales began in explanation. “More so, just who are you playing? What is the score? What does that look like? Could this be an opportunity to affect that? It’s not a surprise onside kick. They know it’s coming.
“It might fit some different scenarios. George Li and I were looking at some of the scenarios from last year where it might have been utilized. There was a handful. It wasn’t a lot, but it would have been useful in a couple of games, not necessarily our games, but some of the other teams.”
