When Does an NFL Kickoff Become a Running Play?

Sep 9

2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

An NFL free kick ends when either team possesses the ball or when the ball becomes dead. A running play begins when the receiving team establishes possession.

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

Kris Brown of the Houston Texans follows through on a kickoff against the Dallas Cowboys in 2010. — Kris Brown kicks off for Houston against Dallas in 2010. Photo by MC Glasgow, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo: Kris Brown kicks off for Houston against Dallas in 2010. MC Glasgow, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A bounce, brush or muff does not establish that possession. Players can already be moving and blocking while the ball is still legally a kick.

Touching and controlling are different

A returner who lets the ball glance off his hands has touched it, but may not have caught it. If it remains loose and live, the free kick continues. Once he completes possession inbounds, the return phase begins.

This is the same basic distinction behind a muff versus a fumble. A muff occurs while trying unsuccessfully to obtain possession. A fumble occurs after possession has been established.

Movement can begin earlier

On the dynamic kickoff, the ball touching the ground or a player in the landing zone or end zone releases players under the formation rules. The blocking provisions also use specified touch or ground triggers.

Those events are different from possession. A ball bouncing at the 8 can release the coverage while still being a loose kick. Our dynamic kickoff guide explains the full setup and movement restrictions.

Two possible endings

Imagine the returner muffs that bounce, then secures the ball at the 5. The kick ends when possession is established. He can then advance as a runner, subject to normal dead ball rules.

If an eligible kicking team player legally recovers first instead, the kick ends and the ball is dead at the recovery spot. The kicking team keeps possession, but its player does not get a return.

The ball can also become dead without either team gaining player possession, such as an applicable touchback or an untouched onside kick going beyond its setup zone. Ending a kick does not guarantee that a running play follows.

Why the classification matters

Officials use the phase of the play to administer blocking, possession and penalties. When a flag appears, the key question may be whether the foul happened during the kick or after possession. Follow control rather than the returner’s first contact with the ball, then listen for the enforcement explanation.