# NFL Q: when was the goal post moved?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 27, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800 "2006-01-27T02:50:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/1 "2006-01-27T02:50:01Z")

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I recall seeing NFL games where the goal post was in the middle of the end zone. This made for some interesting touchdowns as the guys tried to avoid slamming into the posts.

When was it moved to the back of the end zone?

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**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/2 "2006-01-27T02:54:33Z")

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Actually, it was right on the goal line. They were moved to the rear for the 1974 season.

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**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/3 "2006-01-27T02:56:10Z")

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From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal)

> [@](#):
>
> The goal posts were originally located on the goal line which led to many injuries, and the NCAA moved the goal posts to the rear of the end zone in 1927.  
> \<snip\>  
> Like the collegiate goal posts, the NFL goal posts were located on the goal line. They were moved to the rear of the end zone in 1974.

There you go.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/4 "2006-01-27T03:06:50Z")

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Thank you.

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**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/5 "2006-01-27T04:41:22Z")

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Also, if you missed the FG attempt, the opponent got the ball on his own 20. Therefore, FG attempts were often made from mid-field. Tom Dempsey’s 63-yarder in 1970 must have been snapped from about his own 44 yard line, and kicked from his own 37!

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-q-when-was-the-goal-post-moved/341800/6 "2006-01-27T07:19:22Z")

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The NFL moved the goal posts forward in 1933 in an attempt to boost scoring.