Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The return man left it untouched in the end zone so why was it blown dead rather than it being a free ball?

I also noticed during some Sunday games that kickoffs into, but not out of, the end zone that were ignored by the returner were being blown dead. It’s a live ball, isn’t it? Anybody? Bueller?

The new rule is if the ball touches the endzone in anyway it's an immediate touchback and the play is over. The NFL's rationale is that it will eliminate unnecessary collisions occurring on the kickoff that used to occur while the ball was being retrieved and downed

Insert eye roll here.