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

Sunderland was a kickoff specialist for the Wolverines last season, with 44 touchbacks in 71 attempts last season. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026

The Rams have forced touchbacks on 57 percent of kickoffs this season, lapping the field (New Orleans is next at 34 percent). —Mike Sando, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026

But on the very next play, following a touchback, running back Chuba Hubbard coughed up the ball and it was recovered by Seattle. —Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025

Pittsburgh got the ball at its 35 after a touchback. —CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for touchback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids 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