Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The Pittsburgh Steelers have voted in favor of the NFL’s new kickoff rule, albeit more out of alignment with the league’s wishes than out of genuine enthusiasm for the change. Steelers owner Art Rooney II revealed that once it became evident that the league had amassed the necessary 24 votes for the kickoff rule adjustment, he opted to support the majority opinion.
According to Rooney II, the decision to vote for the rule change was made after it became clear that it would pass. He mentioned to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that there wasn’t much excitement initially due to the significant impact the new rule will have on kickoffs.
“The alteration is quite drastic, no way to sugarcoat that,” Rooney elaborated. “We had some hesitations because of this. It will be intriguing to see how it plays out.”
In the end, only the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Green Bay Packers dissented against the kickoff rule. Rooney emphasized that the Steelers’ choice was largely influenced by the prevailing consensus within the league.
The new kickoff rule has sparked mixed reactions among various NFL teams, with concerns raised about the potential consequences of such a significant alteration to the game. Despite initial reservations, teams across the league are preparing to adapt to the changes in the upcoming season.