Can an NFL Punt Gunner Step Out of Bounds?

Sep 20

2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

A punt gunner may be forced out of bounds by an opponent and continue participating after returning properly. He cannot voluntarily use the sideline as a shortcut around a block.

Part of Football 101. Explore the guide to choose your next topic.

Tampa Bay and Kansas City line up for a fourth-quarter punt at Arrowhead Stadium.

On a scrimmage kick that crosses the line, a kicking team player who voluntarily leaves without being contacted to avoid a block before the kick ends commits a five yard foul.

Why he left matters

If a blocker legally drives the gunner across the sideline, the exit itself is excused. If the gunner chooses to step outside and sprint around the blocker, it is not.

Being engaged with a blocker is not enough by itself. Officials judge whether contact actually forced the player out. The same play can also involve separate punt blocking fouls, so the boundary decision does not settle every flag.

He must try to return

A player who has gone out must make a reasonable effort to return. Remaining outside without that effort can produce a separate 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The rule does not give a fixed number of steps as a free sideline running lane.

A legal forced exit therefore does not authorize staying outside until the blocker is safely behind him. The player should return when he reasonably can.

Leaving and touching are different questions

Suppose contact forces a gunner out at the 45. He promptly reenters near midfield and continues toward the returner. The initial exit need not be a foul.

Now suppose he chooses the same route without contact to bypass a block. Reentering promptly does not erase that voluntary exit.

Even after a legal return, officials may need to decide whether he can be the first kicking team player to touch the punt. That is covered separately in regaining punt touching eligibility. Watch the entire route, not just the moment the player comes back in.