touchback
/tʌtʃbæk/
noun
- In American football, a situation where the ball is downed in the end zone by the receiving team after a kickoff or punt, resulting in the team starting their drive from the 20-yard line.
- The kicker sent the ball into the end zone for a touchback, so the offense started at the 20-yard line.
- The returner decided to take a knee for a touchback instead of running the ball out.
- A touchback can also occur on a fumble or interception that goes out of the end zone.