Touching The Pylon Does Not Make An NFL Player Out Of Bounds
The rule that puts a player out of bounds carves out exactly three things by name: a player, an official, and a pylon.
The orange marker on the corner of the end zone is a pylon, and touching it is not what puts a player out of bounds.
What the rule actually says
The NFL's glossary defines it plainly: a player is out of bounds when he touches any boundary line, or touches anything that is on or outside a boundary line.
...except a player, an official, or a pylon.
Why those three are carved out
All three of them routinely stand on or beyond the line while the ball is live. Without the exception, a receiver dragging a foot down the sideline who clips the pylon, or a runner who brushes an official standing on the line, would be out of bounds by contact with something that was never meant to be a boundary.
- 01Touching a boundary line puts a player out of bounds
- 02So does touching an object on or outside a boundary line
- 03A player, an official and a pylon are excepted by name
- 04The pylon marks the corner - it is not a wall
Quick answers
- Is a player out of bounds if he touches the pylon?
- Not by touching it. The NFL glossary excepts a player, an official and a pylon from the objects that put a player out of bounds.
- What does put a player out of bounds?
- Touching any boundary line, or touching anything that is on or outside a boundary line, other than a player, an official or a pylon.
Sources
- NFL Football Operations - Football Terms (the league's own glossary)
- The Official NFL Rulebook, NFL Football Operations
If you think anything on this page is wrong, we want to know.
One football fact a day.
Sourced, short, and nothing to do with predictions.
Keep going
RULE DECODERAfter An NFL Safety, The Team That Gave Up 2 Points Also Has To Kick From Its Own 20
RULE DECODERThe NFL Has A One-Point Safety. It Can Only Happen On A Try
RULE DECODERAn NFL Interception That Carries Into The End Zone Is Not A Safety. Momentum Decides
RULE DECODER