NFL Question - Leaping kick

The Game Room
1

I saw a short piece of footage from what I presume was the first round of the season. The video cut the start and the finish of the play, but I believe it was a kick or a punt return, where the ball carrier* has gotten back to the ball kicker and come in with a leaping kick to his head.

The video didn’t progress enough for me to see if there were any flags thrown, but were there? is that legal?

  • Are they still called a running back if they’re on special teams?
2

I think you’re talking about the runner who tried to leap over a defender, and didn’t quite get high enough.

3

15-yards for unnecessary roughness. It was unintentional but it was hard to ignore.

And he’s the punt returner, not a running back.