LearnSportsOlympics
HomeMore Sports

Football

American Football101ArticlesBowl GamesCoachingCollege FootballDefensive AlignmentsDrillsEquipmentFlag FootballHistoryHow ToKick TypesLeaguesLingoFootball 1st HalfFootball 25-Second Play ClockFootball 2nd HalfFootball 40-Second Play ClockFootball Against The WindFootball AnnouncerFootball AudibleFootball Away TeamFootball Ball CarrierFootball Change Of PossessionFootball Choosing WindFootball Coffin CornerFootball CompletionFootball DeferFootball DeflectionFootball Down And DistanceFootball Down By ContactFootball Fair CatchFootball Forced FumbleFootball FumbleFootball GainFootball GapsFootball Glossary Of Terms And DefinitionsFootball Halftime ShowFootball Halftime SpeechFootball HandoffFootball Hidden Ball TrickFootball HikeFootball HoleFootball Home Field AdvantageFootball Home TeamFootball Instant ReplayFootball InterceptionsFootball Kicking TeamFootball LingoFootball Live ActionFootball Long SnapFootball Losing TeamFootball LossFootball Loss Of DownFootball Loss Of YardsFootball Muffed BallFootball Neutral ZoneFootball No GainFootball Open EndFootball PatFootball PeriodFootball Pick SixFootball PigskinFootball Piling OnFootball PocketFootball QuarterFootball ReceptionFootball RegulationFootball RushingFootball SackFootball SnapFootball Strong SideFootball TakeawayFootball The Kick Is GoodFootball TouchbackFootball Touchdown DanceFootball Touchdown ReturnFootball Visiting TeamFootball Weak SideFootball Winning TeamFootball With The WindNFL FootballNFL TeamsOffensive FormationsOfficialsPass TypesPenaltiesPlayersPlaysPositionsQuestionsRulesScrimmage DownsSkillsStatisticsStrategyTeam StaffThe FieldTrophies
  1. Home
  2. American Football
  3. Football Touchback
PreviousNext

Football Touchback

A touchback in football is a ruling on a play when a ball is dead in the endzone and the defensive team has possession. The ball has to have traveled into the endzone via the offensive team.

Touchbacks can result from the following:

  • A kickoff or punt which lands in the end zone
  • A kickoff or punt that goes out of bounds in the endzone
  • A kickoff or punt returner takes a knee in his own endzone with the ball
  • The defensive team intercepts the ball in their own endzone and is downed or goes out of bounds through the end zone
  • The defensive team recovers a fumble in their own endzone and is downed or goes out of bounds through the end zone
  • The offense fumbles the ball forward out of the end zone
  • A kickoff returner calls for a fair catch behind the 25-yard line

Table of Contents

What Happens Following a Touchback?

The ball is left at the 25-yard line following a touchback. The team who was on defense and gained possession of the ball will start a drive on first down.

football touchback

Originally, the ball was placed at the 20-yard line after touchbacks. In 2016, the NFL moved touchbacks up five yards to the 25-yard line. The change provided an incentive to the receiving team to take more touchbacks rather than trying to return kickoffs.

PreviousNext
PreviousNext