Touchback in Football: When the possession changes hands at the start of each half and after every score. This transition happens through a kickoff, where one team kicks the ball to the other. Special teams manage kickoffs and returns, playing a crucial role in field position strategy.
The kickoff team lines up with a kicker at the center, whose primary goal is to send the ball downfield as far as possible. Meanwhile, the rest of the team charges toward the ball catcher, aiming to tackle them and minimize yardage gained. Conversely, the return team positions a few players deep to catch the ball while others form a protective line to block the approaching tacklers, hoping to gain significant yardage.
However, there are times when the ball travels so far that no return is attempted. Instead, the play is ruled dead, and the referee places the ball on the return team’s 25-yard line. This situation is known as a Touchback in Football.
Let’s dive deeper into what a touchback is and the scenarios in which it occurs.
When Does a Touchback in Football Happen?
Touchbacks can occur in three main situations, though one is relatively rare. The most common scenarios are:
Kickoffs
As mentioned earlier, touchbacks frequently happen during kickoffs. If the kicker sends the ball into the opposing team’s end zone, the return team can choose not to attempt a return.
Punts
Touchbacks also occur during punts if the ball enters the end zone without being returned.
In both cases, the return team has two options:
- A returner can catch the ball in the end zone and take a knee.
- The ball can bounce into the end zone without being touched.
In either instance, the referee blows the whistle to stop the play and awards a touchback.
Why Choose a Touchback?
For the return team, a touchback offers strategic advantages. Starting their offensive drive at the 25-yard line is often more favorable than attempting a return and risking fewer yards gained—or worse, losing the ball to a fumble. While a touchdown on a return is an enticing prospect, the guaranteed yardage from a touchback is usually the safer choice.
The kickoff team can also benefit from a touchback. By forcing the ball into the end zone, they eliminate the risk of the return team making a big play and gaining substantial yardage. This makes touchbacks a win-win in many situations.
Are Touchbacks Always Beneficial?
While touchbacks are usually advantageous, their impact varies depending on the situation:
For the Punt Team
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- If the punt is long, a touchback is often a positive outcome, signifying the punter’s success in flipping field position.
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- However, if the punt team is close to their opponent’s end zone, they aim to “pin” the return team as close to their goal line as possible. In such cases, a touchback means a missed opportunity, as the ball is brought out to the 25-yard line instead of being down closer to the goal line.
A touchback is a critical part of football strategy, often resulting from a kickoff or punt that reaches the opponent’s end zone without a return. It provides the return team with a guaranteed starting field position at the 25-yard line while sparing the kicking team from having to defend a return play. Depending on the game context, touchbacks can be advantageous or a missed opportunity, especially for punt teams trying to pin their opponents deep into their territory.
A Touchback on Non-Kick Situations
The third way a touchback can occur in football is during a turnover in the end zone. A touchback is called if the offense is driving downfield and loses possession of the ball in the opponent’s end zone. This can happen in three main scenarios:
Interception in the End Zone
If the quarterback throws a pass intercepted by a defender in their end zone, the defender can take a knee to signal a touchback. The play is ruled dead once the knee is taken, and possession shifts to the defending team.
Fumble Recovered in the End Zone
If the offense fumbles the ball into the opponent’s end zone and a defender recovers it, a touchback occurs if the recovery happens on the ground or if the defender takes a knee. The play is stopped, and the defense takes over.
Fumble Through or Out of Bounds in the End Zone
If the offense fumbles the ball, crosses the goal line into the end zone and goes out of bounds without being recovered, a touchback is called. This can happen when either team does not secure the ball before it exits the field of play.
What Happens After a Touchback in Football?
Regardless of how the touchback occurs, the outcome remains consistent: possession changes hands, and the team that gains the ball starts their drive at their 25-yard line with a first-and-10.
The 25-yard line is critical in determining whether a touchback is advantageous. For the team gaining possession:
- The touchback is a positive outcome if they were unlikely to gain more than 25 yards on a return.
- If they could have advanced further, it would have benefited the kicking team or the offense that turned over the ball.
In all cases, a touchback resulting from a turnover is a setback for the offense that lost possession and a victory for the defense that forced the turnover.
