What is a safety in football?

A safety is a scoring play in American and Canadian football that occurs when the team with possession of the ball is tackled, forced out of bounds, or commits a foul in their own end zone.

Here's a breakdown:

• How it's scored: A safety is awarded to the opposing team when the offensive team or kicking team is responsible for the ball becoming dead in their own end zone. This can happen through a tackle, stepping out of bounds, a penalty committed in the end zone, or even a fumble recovered there.
• Point Value: A safety is worth 2 points.
• Possession After: After a safety, the team that scored the safety receives a free kick from their own 20-yard line. This is typically a punt. The team that conceded the safety must kick the ball to the team that scored the safety.
• Common Scenarios: Common scenarios include:
  • A running back being tackled in his own end zone.
  • A quarterback being sacked in his own end zone.
  • An offensive holding penalty in the end zone.
  • A muffed punt or kickoff recovered in the end zone.

It's important to note that if a team recovers a fumble in their own end zone and momentum carries them into the end zone, it is not a safety and considered a touchback.