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

After Winston completed a 15-yard pass to Braxton Berrios, McCrary-Ball stripped the receiver, and Stiggers recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchback. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026

After a touchback, Hawks start the second half on their own 20-yard line. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

His first four kickoffs went to the goal line, the end zone (touchback), the 4-yard line, and the 1-yard line. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Doyle placed 17 punts inside the 20 last season, which would amount to a donation of $850, while only five of his 56 attempts went for a touchback. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for touchback

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

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