For as long as football has been played in the modern era, the rule that gives the defense the ball and a touchback following a fumble through the end zone has been one of the most controversial rules in the sport. But it doesn’t sound like it will be changing this year.
According to a report for Judy Battista of NFL Media, the NFL’s Competition Committee discussed the possibility of changing the rule, but there is “not much traction at the moment” for any sort of change.
“Not much traction at the moment for a change on the fumble-through-the-end-zone rule when possession is awarded to the defense on a touchback. Competition Committee discussed it today. Play happens rarely and feeling is it’s the ballcarrier’s responsibility to protect the ball,” Battista said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Not much traction at the moment for a change on the fumble-through-the-end-zone rule when possession is awarded to the defense on a touchback. Competition Committee discussed it today. Play happens rarely and feeling is it's the ballcarrier's responsibility to protect the ball.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 26, 2024
The rule has become controversial because anywhere else on the field if the ball is fumbled out of bounds, the offense retains possession at the spot of the fumble. But when a ball is fumbled out of the end zone, possession automatically goes to the defense which is also awarded a touchback.
But even if fans don’t like it, it sounds like the rule will remain for at least another season.
[Judy Battista]
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