A touchback is an official ruling in American football. It occurs when the ball becomes dead in the receiving team’s end zone after the opposing team puts it there.
The play ends immediately, and the receiving team starts its next offensive drive from a designated yard line based on the type of play and league rules.
You’ll most often see touchbacks on kickoffs and punts.
Keep reading to see when a touchback occurs, what it means for field position, and why teams often welcome the ruling.
What is a Touchback in Football?
‘Touchback’ is a dead-ball situation that occurs in the receiving team’s end zone after the opposing team puts the ball there.
The receiving team is then awarded possession at a specified spot on the field.
The term dates back to early football rules. Instead of returning the ball from the end zone, possession is awarded, and the ball is moved back onto the field.
Per the NFL Rulebook (Rule 11, Section 5): “It is a Touchback when the ball is dead on or behind the opponent’s goal line, provided that the defending team is responsible for the ball being there.”
Where does the Ball Go After a Touchback?
The yard line depends on what type of play it was and which league you’re watching.
After a touchback, the ball is moved to a designated yard line based on the league you are watching and the type of play.
Punt touchbacks and most turnover touchbacks are placed at the 20-yard line. Kickoff touchback placement varies across football levels and recent NFL rule changes.
| League | Kickoff Touchback | Punt Touchback | Turnover Touchback |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (2024) | Ball placed at the 30-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line |
| NCAA | Ball placed at the 25-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line |
| NFHS (High School) | Ball placed at the 20-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line | Ball placed at the 20-yard line |
In the NFL, kickoff touchbacks are usually placed at the 35-yard line. However, a kickoff that bounces into the end zone is placed at the 20-yard line under current rules.
How does a Touchback Happen? The 3 Main Scenarios
A touchback can happen in several game situations, although kickoffs and punts account for most of them.
1. On a Kickoff
The kicker sends the ball deep into the opponent’s end zone. If it sails through the back of the end zone without being touched, or if the returner catches it and kneels immediately, the referee signals a touchback.
The result: Offense starts at the 35-yard line (NFL, 2025) on fly-kicks, or the 20-yard line if the ball bounced in.
2. On a Punt
A punt touchback works slightly differently. If a punt travels into the receiving team’s end zone and is left untouched, the kicking team downs it there, or the returner takes a knee.
The result: Offense starts at the 20-yard line.
A ball downed at the 5-yard line is a better outcome for the kicking team than one rolling into the end zone.
3. On a Fumble or Interception
A touchback can also happen after a turnover in the end zone.
If a defender intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble in their own end zone and chooses not to advance the ball, officials can rule the play a touchback.
The result: The team that gained possession starts its offensive drive at the 20-yard line.
It is a deliberate strategic choice. If the coverage is closing fast and the return lane is blocked, downing the ball in the end zone guarantees a 20-yard line start.
Attempting a return and getting tackled at the 10-yard line is the worst outcome.
How the NFL Touchback Rule Has Changed Over Time?
Looking at the timeline of rule changes, the league (NFL) has repeatedly adjusted touchback placement in an effort to influence kickoff behavior.
Have a look at the timeline shared below to know the most recent rule.
- Before 2018: Kickoff touchbacks were placed at the 20-yard line.
- 2018 (NFL): The NFL moved touchbacks to the 25-yard line to encourage more players to take a knee instead of returning deep kicks.
- 2018 (College Football): A fair catch on a kickoff between the goal line and the 25-yard line began counting as a touchback.
- 2023 (NFL): The NFL adopted the same fair-catch touchback rule used in college football.
- 2024 (NFL): Under the new Dynamic Kickoff format, touchbacks on kicks that reached the end zone in the air were moved to the 30-yard line. Kicks that bounced into the end zone still came out to the 20-yard line.
- 2025 (NFL): Touchbacks on kicks that reached or traveled through the end zone in the air were moved again, this time to the 35-yard line.
A five-yard change in field position can influence how an offense approaches a drive, which is one reason the NFL has repeatedly adjusted touchback placement rules.
How Often do Touchbacks Happen in Today’s NFL?
Touchbacks remain a major part of modern football, although recent kickoff changes have encouraged more returns.
NFL Football Operations reported that the 2024 kickoff format increased return rates and improved average starting field position.
Through the opening weeks of the 2025 NFL season, touchback rates dropped while kickoff returns increased significantly.
Those changes show how rule adjustments can alter coaching decisions and special teams strategy.
NFL Touchback Statistics
- 70.5% of kickoffs were returned during the 2024 preseason.
- Teams started drives at an average of the 28.8-yard line in the 2024 preseason.
- Touchback rates fell to 15.8% through the first five weeks of the 2025 season.
- 81.3% of kickoffs were returned through the first five weeks of the 2025 season.
What is the Difference Between a Touchback and a Safety?
One pattern I’ve noticed while writing about football rules is that touchbacks and safeties are often confused, as both involve the end zone.
If the opposing team sends the ball into the end zone and the receiving team does not advance it, officials may rule a touchback.
If the offensive team is responsible for the ball becoming dead in its own end zone, the result can be a safety instead.
In a nutshell:
| Category | Touchback | Safety |
| Points Scored | 0 | 2 (for the defense) |
| Who Caused It | The kicking team put the ball there | The offensive player carried the ball into their own end zone |
| Possession After | The receiving team keeps the ball | The team that allowed the safety must kick the ball away |
| Ball Spot | Fixed yard line (35 or 20) | Free kick taken from the team’s own 20-yard line |
Should a Returner Take the Touchback or Run It Back?
This is where in-game football IQ shows up. The decision is not always obvious.
- Ball 5+ yards deep in the end zone, coverage closing fast: Take the touchback. The math favors it.
- Ball just inside the end zone, open lane visible: Returner’s call. A disciplined return can gain real field position.
- Ball short of the end zone: Must be returned. Touchback is not an option once the ball is in the field of play.
- Fumble or interception in own end zone, pressure coming: Down it. The 20-yard line is better than getting tackled at the 8.
The Takeaway
One thing I’ve noticed while researching football rules is that the simplest ones often matter more than people think.
A touchback may not look like a big play, but it affects where a team starts its drive and what options they have next. That is one reason the NFL has updated its touchback rules several times over the years.
The next time you see a ball go into the end zone or a returner take a knee, you’ll know there is more happening than it seems. The offense has already gained valuable field position before running its first play.
Follow along for more football basics explained without the rulebook jargon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Touchback Good or Bad?
For the receiving team, a touchback guarantees a solid starting field position with zero turnover risk.
What is the Difference Between a Touchback and a Fair Catch?
A fair catch ends the play after a player catches the ball and signals they will not advance it. A touchback occurs when the ball becomes dead in the end zone under specific conditions.
Does a Touchback Count as a Missed Return?
No. Taking a touchback is a legal, deliberate choice. On most deep kicks, it is the smarter option than attempting a return.
Can you get a touchback on an interception?
Yes. If a defender intercepts a pass in their own end zone and kneels rather than returning it, it is ruled a touchback, and the ball is placed at the 20-yard line.
