Football Illegal Peel Back Penalty
An illegal peel back block penalty occurs when an offensive player moving towards their own endline blocks an opponent from the back, side, or below the waist. A penalty for an illegal peel back block is 15 yards.
Definition
An illegal peel back penalty is given when an offensive player moving toward their own endline blocks a defensive player by tackling from behind or from the side, or by making contact below the waist. The penalty for an illegal peel back block is 15 yards.
Peel back blocks are particularly dangerous because a defensive player running toward the opposing end line can’t see their opponent coming toward them, leaving them open for a blindside block. In particular, contact made below the waist can be especially damaging to a player who is blindsided. A referee will call a penalty for an illegal peel back block after a play.
Peel back blocks are only legal in a select few instances. If an offensive player manages to use their near shoulder to make contact with a defensive player’s front, not from the blindside, that block is legal and will not receive a penalty. The important thing is to not block from that offensive player’s blindside, or to make contact below the waist.
Before 2013, peel back blocks were legal from a player’s blindside so long as it was in the tackle box, but an infamous block on Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing prompted a formal change of the rule. In 2012, Jets guard Matt Slauson dove into the back of Cushing’s legs from behind, causing a torn ACL which ended Cushing’s season. Cushing’s injury solidified the ban of peel back blocks from behind, the side, or below the waist.
The penalty against illegal peel back blocks is in place to ensure that a player in a defenseless position cannot be tackled from the blindside or below the waist and put at risk of serious injury.
Result
| Penalty | NFL | NCAA | High School | CFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal Peel Back | 15 Yards | 15 Yards | 15 Yards | 15 Yards |
Penalty Signal
To signal an illegal peel back block, a referee swings both arms down to their knees and bends slightly at the waist. This is the same motion as any other foul that falls under the category of illegal block below the waist.
Examples
- An offensive player tackles a defensive player running to their own end line from behind.
- An offensive player dives into a defensive player’s knees when they are running towards their own end zone.
- An offensive player shoves a defensive player from the side when they are running towards their own end line.
Helpful Links
Similar Penalties To Illegal Peel Back
FAQ
What is an illegal peel back penalty in football?
In football, an illegal peel back penalty occurs when an offensive player (while moving towards their own endline) blocks an opponent from the back, side, or below the waist. Because of how dangerous it is to hit a defender in this manner, an illegal peel back is a severe foul and thus results in a penalty of 15 yards lost across all leagues.
What is the penalty for an illegal peel back block in football?
An illegal peel back block results in a 15-yard penalty for the offending team. The offense will need to move back 15 yards from the original line of scrimmage and replay the down. While this penalty does not result in a loss of down, it is still detrimental to the offense, as a 15-yard penalty puts the offense in a tough position to gain a first down.
Can you challenge an illegal peel back penalty in football?
According to the NFL rulebook, the legality of a block is non-reviewable, meaning coaches cannot challenge an illegal peel back penalty. Thus, illegal peel back blocks are a judgment call made by the referee, and cannot be reviewed by the Replay Official.