What Is a Fumble? NFL Recovery and End Zone Rules

Aug 16

2 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

A fumble is a loss of player possession other than by a pass or kick. A failed handoff is treated as a fumble. The ball remains live until a recovery or another rule ends the play.

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

A fumble happens when a player who already possesses the football loses control before the play is dead, other than by a pass, successful handoff or legal kick. The ball becomes loose, and either team can recover it. If the defense secures it, possession changes; if the offense recovers it, the play can continue unless a special advancement rule makes the ball dead.

Start by establishing possession. A receiver who never completes a catch has not fumbled a forward pass. A returner who merely touches a kick without securing it has muffed the punt, a different situation.

Who may recover and advance

Normally, any player from either team may recover or catch a fumble and advance. The ball does not have to touch the turf first.

On fourth down before a change of possession, only the fumbling player may advance for the offense. A teammate’s recovery immediately ends the play, with the ball placed at the fumble spot or the recovery spot if that is farther back. The defense may recover and advance.

After the two minute warning, and during a try, the same teammate restriction applies to a fumble by either team. Opponents may advance; for the fumbling team, only the player who lost it may do so.

For example, on fourth and two a runner fumbles one yard short, and his teammate recovers beyond the marker. The ball returns to the fumble spot, so the recovery does not manufacture a first down.

Out of bounds between the goal lines

A forward fumble out of bounds returns to the spot of the fumble. A backward fumble out of bounds uses the inbounds spot where it left the field. The team last in possession normally retains it, subject to fourth down and other applicable rules.

This differs from a backward pass, which has its own out of bounds and late half restrictions.

The end zones change the result

If a ball fumbled in the field of play goes forward through the opponent’s end zone and out, the defense gets a touchback. No defensive recovery is required.

A fumble out through the fumbling team’s own end zone can be a safety when that team supplied the force sending it there. If the opponent supplied that impetus, a touchback can result. Momentum and other exceptions require the full sequence.

Can the ground cause a fumble?

The real question is whether the play was already dead. A runner down by contact before losing the ball has not fumbled a live ball. An untouched runner who merely falls, without giving himself up or another dead ball condition, can still lose a live ball on ground contact. A receiver still completing the catch process presents a separate catch or incompletion question.