Rules question regarding safety at end of game

[Bryan]

If a safety occurs on the last play of regulation and there is no time left on the clock when the play is over...does that team committing the safety still have to kick/punt the ball to the other team? Then, if so, can the receiving team signal a fair catch and have their own "free kick"?

[rhickok1109]

If a safety occurs on the last play of regulation and there is no time left on the clock when the play is over...does that team committing the safety still have to kick/punt the ball to the other team? Then, if so, can the receiving team signal a fair catch and have their own "free kick"?

I don't understand why you think they might have to kick. It seems to me that the game is over. How is it different from a team scoring a TD on the last play of regulation?

[Mark L. Ford]

I think Bryan is correct in asking whether a free kick would apply. Although, as Ralph points out, there would be no putting the ball in play on a kickoff if a touchdown is scored at the end of the game, the safety is the result of a penalty. Here's the wording of the NFL rule on the subject (Section 8, Article 2 of the Rules): "(g) If a safety results from a foul during the last play of a half, the score counts. A safety kick is made if requested by the receivers."

[Bryan]

I don't understand why you think they might have to kick.

Because shouldn't the team who scored the safety also reap the benefit of the free kick? Its different than giving up a TD on the last play and expecting another shot at getting the ball. I had this happen in a football video game I was playing the other day...and the game ended with both teams lining up for a free kick, then walking off the field. Nice touch.

[Reaser]

I had this happen in a football video game I was playing the other day...and the game ended with both teams lining up for a free kick, then walking off the field. Nice touch.

What game?

[Gary Najman]

In the 1978 MNF game between Dallas and Washington, Joe Theismann rolled out of the endzone for a safety in the final play for a 9-5 win. Did the Cowboys could have requested the free kick?

[65 toss power trap]

If the safety is a result of a penalty, then the half can be extended by an untimed down at the defense's option. Usually offensive fouls do not result in an untimed down, but this is a specific exception. Incidentally, the untimed down rules apply to extending any quarter, but that safety kick provision can only be used to extend the 2nd and 4th quarters.

If a safety is the result of a dead ball behind the offense's goal line, then the score counts, but the half is over.

There can be multiple untimed downs until there is one down where there isn't a touchdown-conversion try, a defensive live-ball foul, or a fair-catch kick opportunity. So a fair catch on the safety kick can be followed by a fair-catch kick.

[Bryan]

I had this happen in a football video game I was playing the other day...and the game ended with both teams lining up for a free kick, then walking off the field. Nice touch.

What game?

It was NCAA07 for the PS2. I had been driving down the field, killing time in a blowout, then instead of scoring a TD when I got to the goalline, I started to do kneel downs. But my hated CPU coach opponent then started to use his timeouts...doesn't he understand etiquette? So when the ball went over on downs, there were still a few seconds left to play. I had my defense in an all-out blitz and nailed the QB for a safety with no time left on the clock. It was like I was coaching against Jerry Glanville or Greg Schiano. Screw them.

[Reaser]

It was NCAA07 for the PS2. I had been driving down the field, killing time in a blowout, then instead of scoring a TD when I got to the goalline, I started to do kneel downs. But my hated CPU coach opponent then started to use his timeouts...doesn't he understand etiquette? So when the ball went over on downs, there were still a few seconds left to play. I had my defense in an all-out blitz and nailed the QB for a safety with no time left on the clock. It was like I was coaching against Jerry Glanville or Greg Schiano. Screw them.

Ah the "dynasty" glory days and blowing out the CPU ... And taking recruiting serious so having a custom spreadsheet open on the computer also, for the "two screen experience", ha.

The next year, '08, is the best when you can play the High School state playoffs.

My friend played (safety) for Jerry Glanville in college. There wasn't any of those shenanigans but there was a lot of interesting games. Like losing 73-68 one game, and their true freshman QB threw for 9 TD's in the loss.

[Bryan]

If the safety is a result of a penalty, then the half can be extended by an untimed down at the defense's option. Usually offensive fouls do not result in an untimed down, but this is a specific exception. Incidentally, the untimed down rules apply to extending any quarter, but that safety kick provision can only be used to extend the 2nd and 4th quarters.

If a safety is the result of a dead ball behind the offense's goal line, then the score counts, but the half is over.

There can be multiple untimed downs until there is one down where there isn't a touchdown-conversion try, a defensive live-ball foul, or a fair-catch kick opportunity. So a fair catch on the safety kick can be followed by a fair-catch kick.

Thanks for the info.