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What is a touchback in football?

Question: What is a touchback in football?

Answer:

A touchback is a common occurrence in American football that happens when the ball becomes dead on or behind the goal line possessed by the team defending that goal line. This can occur in several ways, such as when a kickoff or punt goes into the end zone and is not returned, or when a player intercepts a pass in their own end zone and chooses not to run it out.

When a touchback occurs, the team gaining possession starts its drive from its own 20-yard line in most levels of football. However, in the NFL, the rule was changed in 2016 to place the ball at the 25-yard line for touchbacks on kickoffs, in an effort to reduce the number of kickoff returns and thereby improve player safety.

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This change does not apply to punts or other types of touchbacks, which still result in the ball being placed at the 20-yard line.

Touchbacks serve an important strategic purpose in football. For the kicking team, they prevent long returns by pinning the receiving team deep in their own territory. For the receiving team, accepting a touchback provides guaranteed field position without the risk of a fumble or being tackled deep in their own territory.

Understanding when to attempt a return and when to accept a touchback is a key decision for return specialists and can significantly impact a team’s field position and overall game strategy.

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