One of the NFL’s staid elements is getting a shake-up.
Extra points will be attempted from the 15-yard-line beginning in 2015, the NFL announced Tuesday at its spring meeting in San Francisco. Owners approved the rules change, which makes the extra point a 32- or 33-yard attempt.
Two-point conversions will continue to be snapped from the two-yard-line. However, defenses can now return fumbled or intercepted two-point tries for two points of their own. Blocked extra points can also be returned for two points.
According to the NFL’s Competition Committee, the extra point change is just for 2015, which could open the rule to be revisited in the future.
The rule passed 30-2, with Oakland and Washington voting against the measure, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference announcing the change.
Previously, extra points were snapped from the two-yard-line, making it a 19- or 20-yard attempt. These ultra-short kicks, with very few exceptions, have been drama-lacking events.
That said, with kickers more accurate than ever, moving the conversions to the 15 might not have much of an impact on how teams approach post-touchdown scoring attempts. Nevertheless, this is certainly a new wrinkle for a play that has been one of sport’s utterly humdrum actions.