Touchback on Kickoff

[AndrewMcCarthy]

Originally Posted by U_of_I_Blue

He says that once the ball crosses the goal line (before the receiving team has touched it), it is automatically a touchback unless the receiving team attempts to run the ball back, just like it is on a punt.

I don't think this is even true on a punt. Remember Robert Bailey of the Rams in the mid-90s when he picked up a punt that had yet to be ruled dead in the end zone and ran 103 yards for a TD while the remaining players were walking off the field?

I'm not positive of the answer to your kickoff question so I'll keep from guessing.

By the way- you can purchase the NFL rule book from one of the major bookstore chains.

[MJT]

In the NFL, a free kick must be "covered" and downed in the EZ to be a TB. 6-3-2-c

NFL 9-1-13, says "a scrimmage kick that has not been touched by R that crosses the goal line from the impetus of the kick, the ball is dead immediately when it touches the ground or a player of the kicking team in or behind R's goal line.