USA Today via Reuters
Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) kicks a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Imagine lining up for a long field goal in the fourth quarter, only to realize the ball still feels like it’s straight out of the box. That’s how K-balls — the specially marked footballs reserved for kicking — have played out in the NFL for years. But according to Mike Tirico, that’s about to change. And that’s heaven for specialists.
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Yes, Tirico revealed that teams will now be allowed to prepare their K-balls before game day, just like they do with regular game balls. And why does it matter? For kickers, even small differences in the feel and history of a football can affect grip and flight. And now we might see cleaner kicks and smoother snaps. It might not literally be an extra 10 or 15 yards, but it’s still big for kickers.
Tirico just said that the K Balls are allowed to be brought to the game by the teams this year..this is a HUGE deal for ball kickers/snappers
In my estimation..there’s a 10-15 yard swing in a well broken in ball vs a ball fresh out of the box
Gonna be a GREAT year #ForTheBrand
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 5, 2025
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