NFL rule regarding sacks`

[bozman42]

I can't find this on the nfl.com rulebook so I thought someone here might be able to help me. The situation is this, on a pass play a QB is hit, and fumbles the ball, the defense recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown, is the hit on the QB considered a sack or not?

[Kirby]

Yes, I believe it is considered a sack. I do not believe "sack" is a rule book term, so that is why you will not find it in the rules. "Sack" is more of a statistical term.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Kirby

Yes, I believe it is considered a sack. I do not believe "sack" is a rule book term, so that is why you will not find it in the rules. "Sack" is more of a statistical term.

The term was not widespread before 1970, and then in the early '70s suddenly broke out as common football slang.

[Warrenkicker]

I believe that in all plays in the NFL and probably at most levels, causing a fumble is considered a tackle and a fumble caused.

[OverAndBack]

It's possible it's statistically a sack. I used to have a book that had the NFL's statistical guidelines in it.

But, as mentioned, you won't find it in a rulebook. All those things are statistical designations, not rules.

I'll ask my buddy at Elias, though, and get back to you.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

It's possible it's statistically a sack. I used to have a book that had the NFL's statistical guidelines in it.

I think they even credit one to a nearby defender if the ball slips out on the backswing without contact, or if the would-be passer runs out of bounds.

I remember a commentor on a college game on TV on ABC in the early '70s, maybe Lee Grosscup, but anyway a real loudmouth I disliked*, saying, "See that? That's what we called a `sack'." And it seemed to take off shortly after that, although that wasn't the very first time I'd heard it, so he was probably just picking up trendy jargon & BSing as if it were from his playing days. Before that there was no good short term; you might see it listed in passing stats as "tackled". It was still some time, however, before the yardage was subtracted from passing stats rather than running stats.

Robert

* Come to think of it, they all hire mostly loudmouths I dislike!

[OverAndBack]

FYI, Elias Sports Bureau says, yeah, that is a sack, regardless of who recovers the fumble.