touchback

noun

touch·back ˈtəch-ˌbak

plural touchbacks

: a situation in football that typically occurs when the ball is downed (see down entry 3 sense 2) behind the goal line (as after a kickoff or punt) and that results in the team that is defending the goal putting the ball back in play on its own 20- or 25-yard line

Touchbacks on kickoffs will be moved to the 25-yard line, from the 20, to give teams an incentive not to run the ball out of the end zone, one of the most dangerous plays in the game.—

Ken Belson

The punter landed 27% of his kicks inside the 20-yard line while only four ended up in the endzone for a touchback.—

Branson Nash

compare safety sense 3a(1)

Examples of touchback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The ball bounced out of bounds in what could have been a fumble, touchback and turnover. —

Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 27 Oct. 2024 Only 43 percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks (37-of-86). —

Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024 Vanguard starts the second half on its 20-yard line after a touchback. —

Staff Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024 Dallas will get the ball back after a touchback trailing only by seven. —

Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for touchback