Matthew Smiley, Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator with two decades in coaching, shifts focus from work to family after a year tackling the challenges of a new kickoff rule in the NFL.
Smiley, in an interview with The Buffalo News, reveals the mental strain of trying to figure out the intricacies of the new rule during the offseason, a departure from his usual drive-home-from-work routine.
The league aimed to bring excitement back to kickoffs with the new rule, hoping to inject more action into the game and make kickoff plays appointment viewing.
The D.C. Defenders, right, line up against the Seattle Dragons for the opening kickoff of the opening football game of the XFL season, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Washington.
The NFL aims to make kickoffs more thrilling by implementing a rule that challenges players and coaches to adjust to a new dynamic, bringing back the strategy and excitement to kickoff plays.
