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Pass interference

Pass interference is a foul in American football that occurs when a player of either team illegally hinders an eligible opponent's opportunity to catch a legal forward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage.^[1]^[2] This infraction applies only beyond the neutral zone during a catchable pass and requires physical contact that restricts movement or the ability to make a play on the ball, excluding incidental contact.^[1]^[2] In the National Football League (NFL), pass interference is divided into offensive and defensive varieties under Rule 8, Section 5 of the official rulebook. Offensive pass interference happens when an offensive player contacts a defender in a manner that impedes the defender's chance to intercept or defend the pass, such as blocking downfield or pushing off to gain separation, resulting in a 10-yard penalty from the previous spot and loss of down.^[1] Defensive pass interference occurs when a defender restricts an eligible receiver's opportunity to catch the pass through actions like holding, grabbing, or playing through the receiver's back, penalized by a spot foul (the ball advanced to the foul's location) and an automatic first down for the offense.^[1] Exceptions include no penalty for incidental contact, interference after the pass is touched, or when the pass is uncatchable.^[1] College football, governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), follows similar principles in Rule 7, Section 3, but with distinct penalties to emphasize game flow and fairness. Offensive pass interference carries a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot and loss of down, often called for picks, pushes, or illegal blocks beyond the neutral zone.^[2] Defensive pass interference results in a spot foul with an automatic first down, or a minimum 15-yard penalty from the previous spot if the foul occurs more than 15 yards downfield, with special enforcement near the goal line to half the distance.^[2] Like the NFL, NCAA rules exempt incidental contact, uncatchable passes, and post-touch scenarios, but require the pass to cross the neutral zone for the foul to apply, and no changes to these core provisions were made for the 2025 season.^[2]

Definition and Fundamentals

Core Definition

Pass interference is a foul in gridiron football that occurs when a player on either team interferes with an eligible receiver's opportunity to make a fair catch of a legal forward pass, typically through physical acts such as pushing, pulling, holding, tripping, or obstructing vision without attempting to play the ball.^[3]^[2] This infraction applies exclusively to forward passes thrown from behind the line of scrimmage during a down, ensuring that the play remains focused on the airborne ball while protecting receivers from unfair hindrance.^[3]^[2] The rule distinguishes pass interference from legal defensive actions, permitting defenders to intercept, bat, or catch the ball but prohibiting any contact that significantly restricts an eligible receiver's movement or ability to track the pass, such as playing through the receiver's back or using the body to impede without a bona fide play on the ball.^[3]^[2] Offensive players are similarly barred from impeding defenders in ways that alter the fair contest for the pass, though both offensive and defensive variants share this core principle of preserving unimpeded opportunity.^[3]^[2] The concept of pass interference emerged alongside the legalization of the forward pass, first permitted in college football in 1906 to open up the game and reduce injuries from mass formations, and fully unrestricted in the NFL by 1933 when passes could originate from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage.^[4]

Key Criteria for Calling Interference

Pass interference is called when a player makes prohibited contact with an opponent that significantly hinders the opponent's opportunity to catch a forward pass, provided the contact is more than incidental.^[1]^[2] Incidental contact, such as brief or minimal touching that does not restrict movement or vision, does not constitute interference and is not penalized, allowing for the physical nature of the game while protecting fair play on passes.^[1]^[2] Specific illegal acts that trigger a call include tripping an opponent, pushing or shoving in the back, grabbing the jersey or facemask, or extending an arm, hand, or body to impede progress without attempting to play the ball.^[1] Other prohibited actions encompass playing through the back of an opponent, cutting off their path to the ball, hooking or twisting an arm or body, or using hands to restrict the opponent's ability to locate or catch the pass.^[1]^[2] The foul applies only during the flight of a forward pass, with timing varying by type: from the snap for offensive violations and from the release for defensive violations, until the ball is first touched by any player or the play ends, and only beyond the line of scrimmage or neutral zone.^[1]^[2] Contact behind the line of scrimmage generally does not qualify as pass interference, as the play is considered a run or other non-passing action until a legal forward pass is thrown.^[1]^[2] Additionally, the pass must be catchable for interference to be enforced, meaning it has a reasonable chance of being intercepted by the affected player.^[2] Calling pass interference does not require proof of deliberate intent or malice; the foul is determined by the nature and impact of the contact on the opponent's ability to contest the pass, regardless of whether the action was purposeful obstruction.^[1] This objective standard ensures consistency in officiating, focusing on the result of the contact rather than the player's mindset.^[1]

Eligible Players and Timing

In American football, pass interference applies to eligible receivers on both the offense and defense, ensuring fair competition for the ball in flight. Eligible offensive receivers include all players on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield at the snap who are wearing numerals 1-49 or 80-99, or who have been declared eligible by reporting to the referee; ineligible offensive linemen, typically wearing numbers 50-79, are not protected under pass interference rules unless declared eligible.^[5] Defensive players attempting to intercept or defend the pass are afforded the same protections as eligible offensive receivers, granting both sides equal rights to the path of the airborne forward pass without illegal hindrance.^[5] The temporal window for pass interference begins at the snap of the ball for offensive violations and at the moment the forward pass is thrown for defensive violations, extending until the ball is first touched by any player, caught, strikes the ground, or goes out of bounds.^[5] This applies specifically to legal forward passes thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, regardless of whether the pass is completed or intercepted.^[5] For plays involving a backward pass, the rules revert to general blocking restrictions rather than pass interference, as the foul is defined for forward passes in flight. Exceptions to pass interference calls occur if the ball is legally batted forward by a defender after an interception attempt or if the pass is deemed uncatchable, such as when it is clearly out of bounds or not in the vicinity of any eligible receiver before contact.^[5] No pass interference can be enforced after a successful interception attempt, as the play shifts to a run once the ball is secured.^[6] Officials enforce pass interference through standardized signals: the referee extends both arms horizontally forward from the shoulders with palms facing outward to indicate the foul, then points to the spot of the infraction to mark the enforcement location, particularly for defensive penalties.^[7] This signaling communicates the violation clearly to players, coaches, and spectators while facilitating accurate penalty assessment.^[8]

Types of Pass Interference

Defensive Pass Interference

Defensive pass interference is defined as any act by a defensive player, located more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, that significantly hinders an eligible offensive receiver's opportunity to catch a forward pass thrown in flight. In the NFL, this foul takes effect from the moment the ball leaves the passer's hand until it is first touched by another player, and it applies regardless of whether the pass is legal or illegal.^[6] The intent is to prevent defenders from using physical means to obstruct the receiver without making a play on the ball itself.^[6] Common scenarios where defensive pass interference is called include a defender grabbing or holding a receiver's jersey during a route, pushing or hooking the receiver's arm to disrupt their path, or making significant contact without looking back for the ball (often called face-guarding). In the NFL, at the line of scrimmage, defenders may legally "jam" or use bump-and-run techniques within the first five yards to disrupt the receiver's release, but extending such contact beyond that zone without playing the ball constitutes interference.^[6]^[9] Legal defensive actions emphasize playing the ball rather than the receiver. Defenders and receivers have equal rights to the airspace when the pass is in flight, allowing incidental contact if both are pursuing the ball simultaneously or if the defender legally intercepts or bats it away. For example, a defender may legally run through a receiver to reach the ball, provided the contact is not significant enough to impede the catch.^[6] Illustrative examples highlight the distinction: a defender tackling or pulling a receiver to the ground before the pass arrives is a clear case of interference, as it denies any chance at the catch. In contrast, no penalty occurs if contact happens after the receiver has had a reasonable opportunity to locate and attempt the catch, even if the defender then collides while also going for the ball.^[6] The threat of defensive pass interference penalties shapes overall defensive strategy, particularly in pass-oriented offenses, by incentivizing zone coverage schemes over tight man-to-man marking to limit opportunities for physical engagement and reduce foul risks. This approach allows defenders to focus on reading the quarterback and pass trajectory while maintaining separation from receivers. Details vary by league; see "Rules and Variations by League" for specifics.^[10]

Offensive Pass Interference

Offensive pass interference occurs when an offensive player, more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage, significantly hinders a defender's opportunity to catch or intercept a forward pass that has been thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. In the NFL, this foul applies during the time from the snap until the pass is touched by any player, and it emphasizes that both offensive and defensive players have equal rights to the ball without initiating significant contact that impedes the other. Unlike actions within one yard of the line of scrimmage, which may constitute holding rather than pass interference, offensive pass interference specifically targets acts like pushing, blocking, or screening that obstruct a defender's path to the pass.^[11] Common scenarios for offensive pass interference include pick plays, where a non-targeted offensive player positions themselves to block or screen a defender, thereby aiding a teammate's route but illegally impeding the defender's ability to defend the pass. In such plays, if the blocking occurs more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage before or during the pass, it is penalized, particularly on non-screen passes where downfield blocking is prohibited. Another frequent situation arises in rub routes, where two offensive receivers cross paths, and incidental contact may occur, but deliberate obstruction—such as one receiver driving through or picking off a defender—results in the foul if it significantly affects the defender's play on the ball. These scenarios are more common in designed route combinations aimed at creating separation, though officials scrutinize intent and impact to distinguish from legal route-running. Details vary by league; see "Rules and Variations by League" for specifics.^[11]^[12] Legal allowances for offensive players during pass plays permit incidental contact that does not significantly hinder the defender, as well as blocking by offensive linemen within the restrictions of the line of scrimmage, which does not fall under pass interference rules. Receivers may run their routes and make natural movements, but they cannot initiate contact to obstruct a defender after the pass is thrown, such as by extending arms to screen or pushing off to create space for a teammate. For instance, in a simultaneous attempt by eligible players to catch the pass, minor contact is not penalized, but any act that drives through an established defender's position is illegal. Offensive linemen's blocks are generally confined to protecting the passer near the line, ensuring that downfield actions by eligible receivers remain the primary focus of enforcement.^[11] Examples of offensive pass interference include a receiver shoving a defender to clear an interception path or a decoy player blocking downfield to free the primary target, both of which significantly impede the defender's opportunity to contest the ball. These calls are rarer than defensive pass interference due to the offensive strategy's emphasis on gaining yards rather than risking penalties that set back the drive, but they occur notably in rub or decoy plays where the offense attempts to exploit defensive coverage. Strategically, offensive coordinators employ rub routes and similar concepts to disrupt man coverage and open passing lanes, but the risk of offensive pass interference flags requires precise execution to avoid contact that officials deem hindering.^[11]^[12]

Rules and Variations by League

NFL Rules

In the National Football League (NFL), pass interference is governed by Rule 8, Section 5 of the official playing rules, which prohibits any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage that significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch a forward pass. Defensive pass interference occurs when a defender restricts a receiver's movement or ability to catch the ball, such as by grabbing the jersey, arm, or body, or by playing through the receiver's back without attempting to play the ball. Offensive pass interference applies when an offensive player blocks or impedes a defender more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown, or blocks a defender attempting to intercept or defend the pass while it is in the air. These rules apply only to forward passes thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, regardless of whether the pass is legal or illegal, and end when the ball is touched by any player.^[6]^[11]^[5] Defenders are permitted to make contact with receivers within the five-yard zone from the line of scrimmage, but such contact must be incidental and released as the players exit the zone; maintaining or extending contact beyond this area before the pass is thrown constitutes illegal contact, a separate five-yard penalty that results in an automatic first down. Beyond five yards, defenders may only initiate contact if it is incidental or while actively playing the ball, emphasizing the need for defenders to mirror routes without impeding the receiver's path unless contesting the catch. Examples of strict enforcement include calls for grabbing a receiver's facemask or helmet-to-helmet contact during a route, which can be flagged as pass interference if they hinder the catch attempt, though facemask violations may also draw separate penalties. This framework integrates with the illegal contact rule to regulate pre-pass physicality, distinguishing it from pass interference, which specifically applies during the pass play after the ball is thrown.^[9]^[5]^[6] As of the 2025 season, NFL pass interference rules have seen no major changes since the 2019 modifications, which temporarily expanded replay review but were not renewed; pass interference remains non-reviewable by coaches except for objective aspects like whether the ball was tipped or touched, under the expanded Instant Replay assistance provisions in Rule 15. The spot foul penalty for defensive pass interference—placing the ball at the foul's location—underscores the professional game's emphasis on enabling significant downfield plays, often resulting in automatic first downs that can advance the offense deep into opposing territory.^[5]^[13]^[14]

NCAA College Football Rules

In NCAA college football, pass interference rules are outlined in Rule 7, Section 3 of the official rule book, focusing on illegal contact that restricts an eligible receiver's or defender's opportunity to catch a forward pass beyond the neutral zone. Defensive pass interference occurs when a defender plays through a receiver's back, grabs or restricts the receiver's arms or body, or cuts off the receiver's path to the ball without playing it, provided the pass is catchable. Offensive pass interference involves an offensive player initiating contact to create separation, such as shoving a defender or blocking downfield on a legal forward pass. These rules allow incidental contact if it does not impede movement, but significant contact is prohibited unless the defender is actively playing the ball.^[2] Contact allowances in college football mirror those in the NFL by permitting legal play on the ball, but NCAA enforcement is stricter regarding player safety, particularly with targeting rules under Rule 9, Section 1, which can result in ejection for forcible helmet-to-helmet contact on defenseless players during pass plays. For instance, if pass interference involves targeting the head or neck area, it escalates to a personal foul with a 15-yard penalty and potential disqualification, emphasizing protection over the more lenient pro-style interpretations. Unlike the NFL, NCAA defensive pass interference results in a spot foul with an automatic first down, or a minimum 15-yard penalty from the previous spot if the spot of the foul would result in less than 15 yards of advancement from the previous spot.^[2] For the 2025 season, there have been no core changes to pass interference definitions or mechanics, maintaining the structure from prior years, though broader safety integrations like enhanced roughing-the-passer protections under Rule 9 indirectly influence quarterback-related pass plays by penalizing unnecessary contact during throws. Officials in college games tend to call pass interference more frequently on crossing routes, where the speed and physicality of younger athletes can lead to incidental grabs or arm bars that restrict movement, as seen in examples where a defender hooks a receiver's jersey to disrupt timing. Enforcement prioritizes player safety, with replay reviews under Rule 12 limited to confirming targeting ejections rather than overturning most pass interference calls, differing from the NFL's broader replay scope for interference spots.^[2]

High School and Other Amateur Rules

In high school football, governed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), pass interference is penalized with a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot for both offensive and defensive infractions, resulting in an automatic first down if defensive.^[15] Unlike professional rules, there is no spot foul enforcement, meaning the penalty is always applied from the line of scrimmage regardless of where the interference occurs on the field.^[16] Intentional pass interference may also incur an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in addition to the standard infraction.^[17] NFHS rules permit greater physicality in contact before the pass is thrown, allowing defenders more leeway in jamming receivers within five yards of the line of scrimmage without it being classified as pass interference, though significant contact beyond that point prior to the throw is penalized as illegal contact.^[16] Post-snap interference remains strictly enforced, prohibiting any act that significantly hinders a player's opportunity to catch a forward pass, such as grabbing, hooking, or pushing, once the ball is in the air.^[18] In other amateur leagues like Pop Warner, which focuses on youth tackle football for ages 5-15, rules align closely with NFHS standards but incorporate adjustments for player safety, including restrictions on downfield blocking by offensive players beyond the neutral zone on forward passes to minimize unnecessary contact.^[19] For younger divisions, leagues often limit defensive contact to no more than three yards beyond the line of scrimmage before the pass to reduce injury risk, emphasizing controlled play over aggressive interference.^[20] As of 2025, NFHS rules for pass interference remain consistent with the 2025 Football Rules Book, maintaining the fixed 15-yard penalty structure while prioritizing educational enforcement to promote sportsmanship and player development over punitive measures in amateur settings.^[21] In flag football variants common in youth and high school intramurals, defensive pass interference often results in an automatic completion of the pass and first down, rather than a yardage penalty, to encourage fair play without physical escalation.

Penalties and Enforcement

Penalty Yardage and Spot

In defensive pass interference, the penalty is enforced as a spot foul from the location of the interference, awarding an automatic first down to the offense; in professional leagues like the NFL and CFL, there is no yardage cap, potentially advancing the ball a significant distance, whereas in college and high school football, the advancement is limited to 15 yards from the previous spot if the foul occurs 15 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage.^[6]^[22]^[23] If the foul occurs in the end zone, the ball is placed at the one-yard line with an automatic first down in the NFL and CFL, or at the two-yard line in NCAA and high school rules.^[6]^[22] For offensive pass interference, the penalty is 10 yards from the previous spot in the NFL and CFL, with loss of down, while in NCAA rules, it is 15 yards from the previous spot with loss of down, and in high school rules (NFHS), it is 15 yards from the previous spot with the down replayed.^[11]^[22] Unlike defensive interference, offensive interference does not award an automatic first down to the defense.^[11]^[22] When multiple pass interference fouls occur simultaneously by both teams, the penalties offset, resulting in a replay of the down from the previous spot with no yardage enforced.^[6]^[22] The offended team may also decline the penalty if it benefits them, such as when the interference prevented a potential completion but the offense prefers to accept an incomplete pass.^[11]^[24] For example, if defensive pass interference is called at the 40-yard line on a deep pass intended for the end zone, the ball is spotted at the 40-yard line for an automatic first down in leagues with unlimited spot fouls like the NFL, or 15 yards from the line of scrimmage in college and high school rules.^[6]^[22]

Replay Review Limitations

In the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), pass interference calls and non-calls are not subject to instant replay review. In the National Football League (NFL), following a one-year trial in the 2019 season, pass interference was not initially reviewable, but as of the 2025 season, replay assistance has been expanded to include objective aspects of pass interference, such as whether the pass was catchable.^[25]^[14] Replay officials are limited to reviewing objective elements that may indirectly relate to pass interference.^[1] Coaches cannot use their challenges to contest pass interference directly in the NCAA; in the NFL, challenges for pass interference are now possible under the expanded replay assistance but limited to clear and obvious errors. Each team is permitted two challenges per game, with an additional challenge awarded if the initial one results in a successful overturn.^[1] These challenges are reserved for verifiable plays like the location of catches, turnovers, or player possession. As of the 2025 season, replay review protocols in the NCAA have not been expanded to encompass pass interference, while the NFL's expansion focuses on addressing clear and obvious errors in subjective penalties, including pass interference, through enhanced replay assistance.^[26]^[14] One key exception applies to scoring plays involving a flagged pass interference penalty, which undergo automatic replay review as part of the broader assessment to ensure the play's outcome aligns with the rules.^[27] These replay limitations have fostered perceptions of inconsistency in pass interference enforcement, most notably in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, where a non-call on defensive pass interference against the New Orleans Saints altered the game's trajectory and denied them a potential touchdown opportunity late in regulation.^[28]^[29]

History and Evolution

Origins in Early Football

Prior to 1906, American football closely resembled rugby in its structure, prohibiting forward passes and relying on lateral or backward movements, with player interference governed by broad blocking and tackling rules that tolerated intense physical contact but penalized excessive roughness under general foul provisions.^[30] These rugby-influenced regulations emphasized mass formations and close-quarters play, where blocking often involved aggressive interference without distinctions for potential passing scenarios, contributing to the sport's reputation for brutality.^[30] The legalization of the forward pass in college football in 1906 marked a transformative shift, introduced by the Intercollegiate Athletic Association (predecessor to the NCAA) to counteract the game's mounting injury crisis—19 deaths in 1905 alone—and to promote a more open style of play beyond the dangerous wedge and momentum plays.^[30] Initially, there was no specific pass interference rule; instead, defenders' aggressive actions against passers or receivers, such as muggings or illegal holding, fell under "unnecessary roughness" penalties to safeguard players during the nascent passing era, though enforcement remained inconsistent and physical defense dominant.^[31] The first documented college forward pass occurred on September 5, 1906, thrown by Bradbury Robinson of Saint Louis University for a 20-yard touchdown, highlighting the play's potential amid ongoing safety debates.^[30] In the 1920s, as forward passing gained traction in college football, rough tackling on pass plays intensified injury concerns, with defenders often employing brutal tactics to disrupt receivers before the ball arrived, prompting rule refinements to curb such dangers.^[31] For instance, in 1922, the penalty for offensive interference was standardized at 15 yards from the spot of the foul plus a loss of down, reflecting efforts to balance passing innovation with player protection.^[31] By 1928, college rules explicitly prohibited defensive interference beyond the neutral zone until the pass was touched, addressing complaints of overly physical coverage that had led to numerous on-field injuries during pass attempts.^[31] The NFL formally adopted the forward pass in its modern form in 1933, permitting throws from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage—a departure from the prior five-yard restriction—while incorporating pass interference guidelines similar to those in college football, though lax enforcement allowed robust physical defense to persist.^[32] This change, inspired by a controversial 1932 playoff incident involving Chicago Bears' Bronko Nagurski, aimed to invigorate professional play but retained early concepts of penalizing interference as unnecessary roughness rather than a dedicated foul.^[32] Walter Camp, often called the father of American football for his role in shaping the sport from its rugby origins, influenced the development of pass interference through his advocacy for fair play and rule standardization.^[31] In 1916, Camp lobbied the rules committee to implement spot-of-foul enforcement for defensive pass interference, a proposal adopted in 1917 that penalized such actions from the infraction's location rather than the previous spot, laying foundational principles for equitable passing opportunities.^[31]

Major Rule Changes

One of the most significant rule changes in NFL history occurred in 1978 with the introduction of the "Mel Blount Rule," formally known as the illegal contact rule, which limited defensive backs to initiating contact with receivers only once within five yards of the line of scrimmage and prohibited significant contact beyond that point.^[33] This reform, prompted by the physical play of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount, who had intercepted 10 passes in 1974 alone, aimed to reduce jamming tactics that stifled the passing game and promote more open offenses.^[32] The change dramatically boosted passing efficiency, as evidenced by a league-wide increase in completed passes and yards per attempt in subsequent seasons, shifting strategies toward vertical threats rather than short, controlled routes.^[32] The 1995 season saw the expansion of defenseless player protections under Rule 12, Section 2, which prohibited unnecessary roughness against receivers attempting to catch passes or those clearly unable to defend themselves, even if no pass interference was called.^[32] This rule change, building on prior safety initiatives, applied specifically to situations like uncatchable passes or post-catch vulnerability, imposing 15-yard penalties and potential fines to enhance player safety amid growing concerns over concussions.^[34] Strategically, it forced defenders to exercise greater restraint on contested catches, reducing helmet-to-helmet hits and allowing offenses to scheme more freely without fear of excessive physicality.^[32] A temporary but highly debated innovation arrived in 2019 with the adoption of pass interference replay review, allowing one challenge per team (or replay official initiation) for offensive or defensive pass interference calls or non-calls, limited to the final two minutes of each half.^[35] Sparked by the infamous non-call on defensive pass interference during the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams—where cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly interfered with receiver Tommylee Lewis without penalty, costing the Saints a potential touchdown—this one-year trial aimed to address officiating inconsistencies in high-stakes moments.^[28] Over the season, officials reviewed 101 instances, overturning 24, but the subjective nature of the rule led to inconsistent applications, exemplified by the non-reviewable offensive pass interference in the 2012 "Fail Mary" game between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, where receiver Golden Tate shoved defender Sam Shields before securing the contested Hail Mary touchdown.^[25] The experiment was not renewed for 2020 due to these challenges, reverting pass interference to non-reviewable status.^[25] As of the 2025 season, no further changes to pass interference rules have been implemented, though ongoing debates persist regarding the spot foul's severity and potential caps at 15 yards to balance offense and defense, fueled by post-2024 analyses of penalty frequency.^[13]

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[38]
NFL finalizes pass interference replay for 2019 season
Jun 20, 2019 · Even under two minutes, all passing plays can be reviewed for pass interference. Any "Hail Mary" play at the end of a half or game will be ...Missing: trial outcome