Here's What The NFL Should Do To Fix Its End Zone Touchback Rule

One of the most controversial rules in the NFL states that if a ball carrier fumbles out of the back or side of an end zone, it's a touchback and the defense gets the ball.

It's time to fix that.

The current rule says that any fumble that goes out of bounds in the endzone is a turnover. For instances like this one with former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, that penalty should definitely apply.

That’s just a careless, idiotic case of a player not securing the ball, without a single defender near him. A touchback is more than justified here.

But what about the times when a ball carrier is running into the end zone and gets the ball knocked out? Look at this example of Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood in a regular season game.

On the one hand, you can say "Take better care of the ball," to which I agree. But on the other hand, how can you reward a defense for not recovering the ball, and getting a lucky bounce that gives them possession?

I don’t think that makes any sense, which is why I propose this new nuanced, multi-part rule:

In situations where a defender makes no forcible attempt at the ball (as was the case with Mitchell), then it's a touchback.

If a defender goes for a tackle at the legs of the ball carrier and the ball carrier still fumbles it out of the end zone, it is a touchback and the defense gets the ball.

Here’s where the big change would come:

If the defender makes forcible contact with the ball carrier that leads to a fumble (like with Underwood), it is NOT a turnover. However, the offense gets penalized 15 yards from where the play started, and the down counts.

Do I expect the NFL to change the rule? Not at all, it takes a lot to convince the league it needs to change a rule.

But this would be the better path forward for everyone, and creates more fairness.