# Can a player pass himself in NFL? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 12, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452 "2017-11-12T18:23:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/1 "2017-11-12T18:23:30Z")
Say a running back who throws the ball up in the air, say 10 yards ahead of himself, and runs and catches it, continues and does a TD. Would that be allowed (my son wonders, and now I too)? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/2 "2017-11-12T18:37:36Z")
If the QB throws a pass and it’s deflected he can catch it off the deflection. Seen that happen a few times. Also if a player fumbles the ball and it goes into the air they can catch it but that’s not the same as a deliberate pass. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/3 "2017-11-12T18:43:38Z")
Brett Favre’s very first pass completion was to himself. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/4 "2017-11-12T19:37:43Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > … but that’s not the same as a deliberate pass. So what about the deliberate forward pass to oneself? Is it allowed? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/5 "2017-11-12T20:38:45Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > So what about the deliberate forward pass to oneself? Is it allowed? The offense is allowed one forward pass per down and that pass must be made when the passer is behind the line of scrimmage. If you throw when beyond the line of scrimmage or if a forward pass has already been made then it’s a penalty. It doesn’t matter who your intended target is (if anyone), it would be a penalty. Also, if you’re throwing a forward pass then you can’t throw to an ineligible receiver, that’s another penalty. Of course the referees need to determine if the pass is intentional or if the ball was released by accident, if the latter then it’s ruled a fumble. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/6 "2017-11-12T20:40:21Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > So what about the deliberate forward pass to oneself? Is it allowed? I can’t give you a cite, but I’m quite sure no. I’m also sure that at one time (and perhaps still) the quarterback when stationed right behind center is an ineligible receiver. Backs must be one yard behind the line of scrimmage to be eligible. The latter would not affect eligibility after deflection when all offensive players may catch the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/7 "2017-11-12T20:59:07Z")
Thank you for the replies. So a cunning running back with a safety approching could not throw the ball up in the air, run passed the confused safety, catch it and make a touch down? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/8 "2017-11-12T21:02:29Z")
that’s called a forward lateral pass and not allowed ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/9 "2017-11-12T21:13:44Z")
Ah, OK, thanks. Would be fun though. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/10 "2017-11-12T21:24:31Z")
The same question was asked in one of those “[Ask the Official](https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/2161/ask-the-official-quarterbacks-can-catch-their-own-passes)” columns. > [@](#): > > **Can a quarterback throw the ball over a defender’s head, then catch it legally before it touches another player?** > > Players can throw backward passes as many times as they want. > > As for a forward pass, yes – once and as long as the quarterback is wearing an eligible number (in high school and college). In the NFL, the thrower cannot legally catch his own pass until it is touched by another player. So looks like in the NFL it must be a deflected pass for a quarterback to legally catch his own forward pass. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/11 "2017-11-13T03:03:02Z")
Even if a quarterback could legally toss an “eephus” pass high in the air and race downfield in time to catch it, that sounds like a really stupid play to call. As I say, the only way the passer could possibly get downfield in time to make the catch would be if the pass was a high lob… which would be easier for defenders to intercept than for the passer to get to. Besides, you wouldn’t want your passer taking the big hit he’d be sure to receive after the catch. That’s like asking “Could LeBron lob a high pass toward the basket, then run up, catch the ball and dunk it in? And if so, would be get an assist for his own score?” The answer is, “Probably not, but even if he could, why would he?” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/12 "2017-11-13T03:10:50Z")
> [@Wakinyan](#): > > Thank you for the replies. So a cunning running back with a safety approching could not throw the ball up in the air, run passed the confused safety, catch it and make a touch down? 🙂 In addition to the fact that the pass would have to be tipped for the running back to be a legal receiver on the play (as noted by several), he’d also have to throw it while he was still behind the line of scrimmage. Once the ballcarrier is past the line of scrimmage, **any** forward pass is an illegal play. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/13 "2017-11-13T04:00:44Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > that’s called a forward lateral pass and not allowed No, it isn’t. There is no such thing as a “forward lateral pass”. A pass is either a forward pass or a lateral. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/14 "2017-11-13T04:14:02Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > No, it isn’t. There is no such thing as a “forward lateral pass”. A pass is either a forward pass or a lateral. This is like saying there is no NE direction it is either north or east. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/15 "2017-11-13T04:21:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > This is like saying there is no NE direction it is either north or east. That’s not a relevant comparison. In American football, a pass is either a forward pass, or it’s a lateral (which travels either backwards, or, rarely, parallel to the line of scrimmage). Both sorts of passes are specifically defined in the rules, and those definitions are mutually exclusive. It’s not possible for a forward pass to also be a lateral pass. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/16 "2017-11-13T04:22:47Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I can’t give you a cite, but I’m quite sure no. I’m also sure that at one time (and perhaps still) the quarterback when stationed right behind center is an ineligible receiver. Backs must be one yard behind the line of scrimmage to be eligible. The latter would not affect eligibility after deflection when all offensive players may catch the ball. [https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2017-nfl-rulebook/#article-6.-ineligible-receivers](https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2017-nfl-rulebook/#article-6.-ineligible-receivers) > [@](#): > > e. A player who takes his stance behind center as a T-formation quarterback is not an eligible receiver unless, before the ball is snapped, he legally moves to a position at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage or on the end of the line, and is stationary in that position for at least one second before the snap. > > Note: If he leaves his position behind the center and does not receive the snap, it is Illegal Motion unless he has been stationary for at least one full second prior to the snap. So would a QB in the shotgun be eligible? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/17 "2017-11-13T04:23:20Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > That’s not a relevant comparison. In American football, a pass is either a forward pass, or it’s a lateral (which travels either backwards, or, rarely, parallel to the line of scrimmage). Both sorts of passes are specifically defined in the rules, and those definitions are mutually exclusive. It’s not possible for a forward pass to also be a lateral pass. I love this, a insight into another realm. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/18 "2017-11-13T04:25:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > So would a QB in the shotgun be eligible? Yes, and it’s a play that does get used occasionally – the center either snaps the ball directly to a running back, or the QB hands off or laterals to a running back, and then runs out on a pass route. As defenders usually aren’t looking for the QB to be a receiver, he can often find himself to be open. It works as a trick play, but teams are generally leery of sending QBs out on pass patterns very often, for risk of injury. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/19 "2017-11-13T04:29:25Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I love this, a insight into another realm. Thank you. You’re welcome! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452/20 "2017-11-13T04:31:48Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Yes, and it’s a play that does get used occasionally – the center either snaps the ball directly to a running back, or the QB hands off or laterals to a running back, and then runs out on a pass route. As defenders usually aren’t looking for the QB to be a receiver, he can often find himself to be open. > > It works as a trick play, but teams are generally leery of sending QBs out on pass patterns very often, for risk of injury. Too late to add this in on edit: here’s a video with some examples of such plays: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni8rqm0z9fk) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-player-pass-himself-in-nfl/801452.md?page=2)