# NFL Question - Leaping kick **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 12, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-question-leaping-kick/698252 "2014-09-12T01:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-question-leaping-kick/698252/1 "2014-09-12T01:33:36Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-question-leaping-kick/698252/2 "2014-09-12T01:39:35Z")
I think you’re talking about the runner who tried to leap over a defender, and didn’t quite get high enough. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-question-leaping-kick/698252/3 "2014-09-12T01:41:20Z")
15-yards for unnecessary roughness. It was unintentional but it was hard to ignore. And he’s the punt returner, not a running back.