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
Ken BelsonThe 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)
Branson NashExamples of touchback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside of putting the ball on the 35-yard line after touchbacks, the dynamic kickoff rules will remain the same.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
The dynamic kickoff rule becomes permanent, with touchbacks moving to the 35-yard line instead of the 30.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
If a ball doesn't land in the return zone, a new rule approved by NFL team owners means a touchback will result in the ball being placed at the 35-yard line.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025
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Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025
The dynamic kickoff rule becomes permanent, with touchbacks moving to the 35-yard line instead of the 30.
—Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
If a ball doesn't land in the return zone, a new rule approved by NFL team owners means a touchback will result in the ball being placed at the 35-yard line.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Right after a touchback, Will Howard dumped a pass off to TreVeyon Henderson, who got some blocks up front and scampered 75 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, Fox News, 11 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touchback
Cite this Entry
“Touchback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touchback. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touchback
noun
touch·back
ˈtəch-ˌbak
: the act of downing a football behind the goal line after receiving a kick or intercepting a pass
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