NFL Rules for Defensive Linemen

The National Football League (NFL) maintains several rules in hopes of increasing safety on the field. A defensive lineman is in the middle of most plays during a game, and the NFL developed several rules to minimize lineman-caused injuries. There are rules regarding the use of arms and hands, who can be tackled and ways to prevent quarterback injuries.

  1. Before the Snap

    • The positioning of players before the snap is important. While the offense must follow a set number of players on the line of scrimmage, the defense can shift into any imaginable set. The defensive lineman's only requirement is that he may not enter the neutral zone before the snap, which is the area between the linemen on offense and defense. This is called a neutral zone infraction and is a 5-yard penalty. Additionally, a defensive lineman may not move abruptly in a way to cause the offense to false start. This is called encroachment and is a 5-yard penalty.

    Tackling and Grappling

    • Once the play starts, a defensive lineman must be cautious with his use of hands and arms. His hands may not strike the offensive lineman's neck, head or face. This is called illegal use of hands, which is a 5-yard penalty and may result in an automatic first down.

      A defensive lineman may not tackle any player who doesn't have the football. The referee may call this illegal use of hands as well, but it is usually called unnecessary roughness, which is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

      Whenever a lineman tackles someone with the football, he may not grab the face mask. An incidental contact will result in a 5-yard penalty, but a flagrant grab is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down.

    Tackling Quarterbacks

    • The NFL developed a list of rules to help protect quarterbacks. Once the quarterback releases a pass, a lineman may not run into or tackle the quarterback. It's called roughing the passer and is a 15-yard penalty. The exception is if the referee determines that the lineman's momentum led him into the quarterback.

      No defensive lineman can tackle a quarterback below the knees when the lineman has an open path. If the quarterback is running away or if the lineman is restricted by a blocker, then he can tackle around the legs. Otherwise, it's a roughing the passer penalty.

      If a lineman has a firm grasp on the quarterback but hasn't brought him to the ground yet, a referee may end the play because he feels the quarterback is in danger of being hurt. If a lineman continues to bring the quarterback down after the play is whistled dead, then an unnecessary roughness penalty will cost the defense 15 yards.