How NFL Onside Kicks Work Explainer
An onside kick is a kickoff designed to give the kicking team a chance to recover the ball instead of sending it deep. Under the current NFL format, a team that is trailing may declare the attempt in the fourth quarter, allowing both sides to use the special onside alignment.
The receiving team's restraining line is ten yards beyond the kicking team's line. The kicking team may legally touch or recover the ball after it reaches that line or after a receiving player touches it first. Touching the ball too early is illegal touching, not a successful recovery.
If the kicking team legally recovers, the ball is dead at the recovery spot and its offense takes possession. A receiving player who recovers may advance. An untouched ball that travels beyond the designated onside setup zone becomes dead and belongs to the receiving team.
Because the kicking team must announce the play, surprise is largely removed from this NFL version. The contest depends on the bounce, blocks, hands, and the ten-yard threshold. Watch the officials' beanbags and signals before assuming a pile has changed possession.
The kicking team cannot legally recover until the ball reaches the receiving restraining line or is first touched by the receiving team.
No. A legal recovery by the kicking team makes the ball dead at that spot.
In the current NFL format, an eligible trailing team declares the attempt before the kick.
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