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

Mateo Akerman of Corona del Mar came out from the soccer team and has been booming almost every kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff there was enough time for one play, but the Wolfpack were stopped on their side of the 50-yard line. — Jordan Smitherman, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff there was enough time for one play but the Wolfpack were stopped on their side of the 50-yard line. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Now, touchbacks on kickoffs from midfield will be placed at the 20-yard line. — Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 8 Sep. 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