Unraveling the gridiron mystery: Who gets the ball after a Safety? (Part 1)
Unlike standard scoring plays—where the team that concedes points must immediately kick off to the scoring team (as seen after a touchdown or field goal)—a safety flips conventional logic on its head. Understanding the mechanics of who secures possession after this unique event requires a deep dive into the foundational laws of gridiron football, the evolution of special teams strategy, and the precise definitions governing free kicks.
The fundamental rule: Rewarding the scoring Team with possession
The short, definitive answer to who gets the ball after a safety is straightforward: the team that scored the safety receives the ensuing kick.
If your defense bursts through the offensive line, traps a scrambling quarterback deep in the shadow of his own goalposts, and brings him to the turf for a safety, your reward is twofold:
Two points added directly to your team's score.
Immediate possession (or the opportunity to field the resulting kick).
This dynamic makes a safety one of the most devastating momentum-swinging plays in the sport. Not only does the defense successfully prevent the opponent from scoring, but they also turn a defensive stand into an immediate offensive opportunity. Instead of kicking the ball away, which is the penalty for scoring in almost every other context of sports, the team that gives up the safety is forced to put the ball back into play via a specialized restraining line.
The mechanics of the restart: The Safety kick
Once the referee signals a safety and awards the two points, the game cannot simply resume with a standard scrimmage play or a routine kickoff. Instead, the team that conceded the safety must execute what the rulebook formally defines as a safety kick (frequently referred to historically as a free kick after a safety).
The team that was just scored upon sends out its special teams unit to line up along its own 20-yard line (in the NFL and most levels of American tackle football). Meanwhile, the team that just earned the two points positions its receiving unit downfield, preparing either to catch the ball cleanly, call for a fair catch, or launch a dynamic return.
This specific alignment, the kicking team operating from their own 20-yard line, creates a massive expanse of green turf for the receiving team to exploit, heavily favoring field position for the team that just scored.
Historical evolution: Punt vs. Placekick
For decades, if you watched an NFL or collegiate game following a safety, you would witness a very distinct visual pattern: the kicking team almost always trotted out a punter rather than a traditional kickoff specialist.
Under historical rule structures, teams were permitted to execute a safety kick via a punt, a drop kick, or a placekick, but crucially, they were not allowed to use a manufactured kicking tee for a placekick on a safety restart. Because kicking a ball cleanly off the turf without a tee under game pressure is exceptionally difficult and risky, coaches overwhelmingly preferred the safety punt. Punting allowed the team to control distance and hang-time reliably, maximizing coverage team reaction time.
However, rule modernizations have injected new life into this phase of the game. Contemporary regulations have adapted to allow greater flexibility, including updated provisions regarding alignment and the use of modern kickoff formations, altering how teams approach the tactical execution of putting the ball back into play.
The kickoff following a Safety: Mechanics, rules, and strategy
When a safety occurs in American football, the mechanics of the ensuing restart differ completely from a standard kickoff after a touchdown or field goal. Rather than relying on a traditional tee placed at the 35-yard line, the team that just conceded two points must execute what is formally known as a safety kick.
Understanding who receives the ball, how the kick is performed, and the strategic weight of this sequence is essential for appreciating the intricacies of special teams play in both the NFL and college football.
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| SAFETY OCCURS (Team B scores) |
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v
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| Team A (team that conceded) kicks from their 20 |
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v
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| Team B (team that scored) RECEIVES the ball or field |
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Rule framework: Who receives the ball?
According to both NFL and NCAA rulebooks, the team that was scored upon, the team that conceded the safety, is responsible for putting the ball back into play. However, they do not receive the ball; the team that scored the safety receives the ball.
Specifically, the team that conceded the safety must kick the ball from their own 20-yard line. This is typically executed via a placekick (using a tee) or a drop kick, though punting is also legally permitted under the rules. The receiving team, the team that was awarded the two points, can choose to receive the kick themselves, or they can choose to force the kicking team to re-kick if certain infractions occur, though they almost always elect to take possession.
This setup creates an immediate territorial advantage for the team that scored. By forcing the opponent to kick from their own 20-yard line without the benefit of a standard kickoff tee and spacing, the receiving team often starts their ensuing offensive drive with favorable field position, frequently near midfield or better depending on the quality of the kick and the return.
Tactical variations: Placekick, punt, or drop kick?
Coaches have three legal options when executing a safety kick: a traditional placekick using a tee, a drop kick, or a punt. In modern football, the vast majority of teams opt for a traditional placekick or a punt, depending on the skill sets of their personnel.
The Placekick Option
Using a placekick allows a team to utilize a standard kicker or a kickoff specialist. However, because the ball is being kicked from the 20-yard line without the momentum and elevation typically gained from a standard 35-yard kickoff tee configuration, distance can sometimes be compromised. Kickers must drive the ball with immense force to prevent the receiving team from getting a short field.
The Punt Option
Many modern special teams coordinators prefer to punt the ball following a safety. Punting allows the team to utilize their regular punter, who is specifically trained to kick a high, spiral ball under pressure. A well-executed safety punt can hang in the air long enough for coverage gunners to race downfield and pin the receiving team deep, neutralizing the natural field-position penalty inherent to the safety rule.
The Drop Kick
Extremely rare in contemporary football, a drop kick involves dropping the ball to the ground and kicking it precisely as it bounces. While legal, it requires specialized timing and skill that makes it practically obsolete in modern professional and collegiate schemes.
The hidden impact on field position and momentum
Beyond the immediate mechanics, the safety kick serves as a critical pivot point for game momentum. Giving up two points is damaging, but surrendering a short field immediately afterward can compound the error into a defensive disaster.
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| The Safety Sequence |
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| 1. Safety conceded (2 points awarded) |
| 2. Kicking team boots from their 20-yard line |
| 3. Receiving team fields ball with strong field position |
| 4. Offense takes over, mounting immediate scoring pressure |
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Because the kicking team is constrained to their own 20-yard line, return specialists often find more operational room to maneuver. Coverage units have less distance to travel before the kick is fielded, but they also have less runway to build full sprinting speed compared to a standard 35-yard kickoff. This dynamic frequently results in high-impact returns that can swing the psychological and tactical momentum of a tight game.