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The “one-point safety” is the NFL’s rarest scoring play. Many fans watch football for years and never see one, and some are not even aware it is possible. Yet it is in the rulebook, and it can decide a game. This complete, beginner-friendly guide breaks down what the one-point safety is, where it comes from in the rules, how it could actually happen, and how it compares to college football. By the end, you will be able to spot one-point safety conditions in real time and explain them to your friends like a pro.
What Is a One-Point Safety?
A one-point safety is a scoring play in which the team that just scored a touchdown is awarded one point on the ensuing try (the point-after play), because the defense became responsible for the ball becoming dead in its own end zone during that try. Importantly, this scoring play can only happen on the try. It cannot occur during normal play in the first three downs or in overtime unless it is the try after a touchdown.
In other words, it is a safety that occurs during the point-after attempt, and the offense—yes, the offense—gets one point. It is not a field goal. It is not a regular safety worth two points. It is a special, rules-driven event that sits in the NFL’s scoring system just for the try.
Where This Lives in the Rulebook
The one-point safety sits inside the NFL’s Try rules and the Safety rules. The high-level concept is simple and consistent with the core of football: if a team is responsible for dead-balling the ball in its own end zone, that is a safety against them. The twist on a try is that the value of this safety is only one point, and it goes to the team that attempted the try. That is why it is called a “one-point safety.”
You do not need to memorize article numbers to understand it. Keep this mental rule: during the try, if the defense causes its own dead-ball situation in its end zone (by its own action or a penalty that would be a safety on a normal down), the offense gets one point.
How the Try Works in the NFL
Every touchdown earns the right to a single “try” play. The scoring team chooses to kick an extra point or run a two-point conversion. Since 2015, the NFL extra point kick is snapped from the 15-yard line (making it a 33-yard kick), while a two-point attempt is snapped from the 2-yard line.
On a try, four things can happen under normal circumstances:
- The offense kicks the extra point through the uprights: 1 point.
- The offense runs or passes into the end zone from scrimmage: 2 points.
- The defense returns a live ball all the way for a score: 2 points to the defense.
- The play ends with no score: 0 points from the try.
The one-point safety is the fifth, extremely rare path: the offense gets 1 point, but not by a kick going through the uprights—by the defense committing a safety during the try.
Core Principle: Responsibility for the Ball in the End Zone
The key to understanding safeties is the idea of responsibility (often called “impetus”). A safety happens when a team is responsible for the ball being in its own end zone and the ball becomes dead there. On a normal down, that is worth two points to the opponent. On a try, the principle stays the same, but the value changes to one point for the offense.
Responsibility is created when a team carries the ball into its end zone, bats or fumbles it there, or commits a foul in the end zone that would normally cause a safety. If the defense gains control and then retreats or forces the ball into their own end zone during a try, and the play ends there, that is the exact situation that could result in a one-point safety.
Classic One-Point Safety Scenarios
1) Blocked Extra Point, Defense Retreats into Its Own End Zone
Imagine a kicked extra point gets blocked. A defender scoops the ball around the 10-yard line with a chance to return it the other way for two points. He cuts back, then back again, loses ground, and is chased all the way into his own end zone. If he is tackled there, or fumbles the ball out of bounds there, or the ball becomes dead in that end zone by his team’s action, that is a one-point safety for the offense.
Why? Because the defense had possession and forced the ball into its end zone. They are responsible for the ball being dead in their end zone. On a try, that equals one point to the offense.
2) Desperate Lateral Gone Wrong on a Return
Same setup: the defense gets the ball after a blocked kick or a tipped pass during a two-point attempt and tries a series of laterals to spark a two-point return. In the chaos, a defender throws a backward pass that bounces into his own end zone, where a teammate falls on it and is immediately down. No offensive player needs to touch it. The defense’s own backward pass is the reason the ball is in the end zone. That creates responsibility, and the result is a one-point safety.
3) Penalty Safety in the End Zone
On a normal down, if the offense is fouled by the defense in the defense’s end zone in a way that would be a safety (for example, certain holding or illegal batting situations), it counts as a safety by penalty. On a try, that type of foul against the defense can convert into a one-point safety. In practice, these penalty-driven one-point safeties are even rarer than the live-ball versions, but they are possible under the rule framework.
4) Muffed Ball into the End Zone, Then Downed
Consider a two-point pass that is tipped and deflected into the field of play, then a defender muffs (touches without control) the loose ball and accidentally kicks or bats it backward into the end zone. Another defender recovers and is tackled in the end zone. The defense’s actions put the ball there. If the ball becomes dead in their end zone, you have the one-point safety.
Important Boundaries: What a One-Point Safety Is Not
Not a Normal Safety
A regular safety occurs during normal downs and gives two points to the defense (the team without the ball). The one-point safety only happens during the try, and it gives one point to the offense. If you see two fingers raised sideways by the referee in the middle of the second quarter, that is a normal safety, not a one-point safety.
Not a Defensive Return for Two
Since 2015, the NFL allows the defense to return a try for two points. If the defense blocks an extra point and returns it, or intercepts a two-point pass and goes all the way, that is two points for the defense. But if the defense’s return collapses into a dead-ball situation in their own end zone—by their own doing—then the scoring flips and the offense gets one point instead.
Not a “Kick Through the Uprights”
One-point safeties do not involve the ball going through the uprights. If the kick goes through, that is the routine extra point. The one-point safety replaces that outcome when the defense creates a safety during the same try.
The Officiating Logic on the Field
Here is how officials mentally process a potential one-point safety on a try:
- Step 1: Identify that it is a try down (after a touchdown).
- Step 2: Track possession and responsibility. Who put the ball in the defense’s end zone?
- Step 3: If the defense caused the ball to be in their end zone and it becomes dead there, rule a safety on the try.
- Step 4: Award one point to the offense and end the try.
- Step 5: Prepare for the ensuing kickoff, just as after any extra point.
The referee’s announcement will typically be simple: “The result of the play is a one-point safety. The try is successful.” Then the scoring is adjusted by one point in favor of the offense.
Why the Rule Exists
Football’s scoring rules aim to treat field position and ball responsibility consistently. The one-point safety is a natural extension of that consistency to the try. If a team puts the ball in its own end zone and the play ends there, they should be penalized with points for the other team. Because the try already attaches to a touchdown, the NFL reduces the value of that safety to one point rather than two. That preserves balance while keeping the logic of responsibility intact.
Real-World Occurrence: Has It Happened in the NFL?
As of recent seasons, there has been no recorded one-point safety in an NFL regular-season or postseason game. It is so rare that most broadcasts treat the possibility as trivia. In college football, however, there have been a few on national TV, which is where many fans first learned the concept. The NCAA rule is similar: the defense can give up a one-point safety on the try if it becomes responsible for the ball becoming dead in its own end zone.
Because the pro game emphasizes ball security and situational coaching, and because try plays are relatively short, the string of mistakes needed to create a one-point safety almost never occurs. Still, with longer extra point distances since 2015, blocked kicks and live-ball chaos happen a bit more often, which keeps the door open for the NFL’s first ever one-point safety someday.
College vs. NFL: What’s the Difference?
The NCAA and NFL are aligned on the broad strokes: one-point safety can only occur on the try; the defense must be responsible for the ball being dead in its own end zone; and the offense gets one point. Replay and penalty enforcement mechanics differ slightly between leagues, but to a fan, the outcome is the same. If you see a tangled return on a try end with the defense tackled in its own end zone because of its own lateral or retreat, expect the offense to be awarded one point.
What Happens Next After a One-Point Safety?
After the try is over—whether by kick, two-point run, no score, or a one-point safety—the game proceeds to a kickoff. The team that scored the touchdown still kicks off to the other team. The one-point safety just affects the extra point tally, not who receives the kickoff.
For example, a touchdown plus a one-point safety makes the score 7 points from that series (6 + 1). The scoring team now kicks off as usual.
Scoreboard and Box Score Notes
In the official scoring summary, the notation might read “Try: One-point safety” or “Safety on try.” It is credited to the offense. It will not show up as a field goal, nor will it be a two-point conversion. Statisticians also log the cause when clear (e.g., “defense downed in end zone”). Because it is rare, broadcasters will usually highlight it on replays and explain the rule clearly for viewers.
Common Misconceptions
“The defense can get a one-point safety.”
No. The defense cannot score one point on a try. If the defense scores on a return during the try, it is always two points, never one. One-point safeties always go to the offense and only on the try.
“It can happen during any play.”
No. The one-point version of a safety only exists during the try. During normal play, a safety is worth two points and always benefits the defense.
“It happens when the extra point bounces off the upright.”
No. A missed kick that hits an upright or crossbar and falls dead is simply an unsuccessful try. It is not a safety unless the defense somehow takes responsibility for dead-balling the ball in its own end zone during the same live play.
Beginner-Friendly Walkthrough: Spotting a One-Point Safety in Real Time
Here is a simple checklist to use when watching a chaotic try:
- Did the offense just score a touchdown? Yes → We are on a try.
- Did the defense gain control of the ball on the try? If no → Probably a normal extra point or failed two-point attempt.
- If yes, where did the ball end? Did it become dead in the defense’s own end zone?
- Who is responsible for putting it there? If the defense’s action (carry, lateral, bat, fumble) put it into their end zone and it became dead there, that is the one-point safety.
- If the defense advanced it all the way to the other end zone, it is two points for the defense, not a one-point safety.
Edge Cases and Weird Plays
Ball Batted Backward into the End Zone
If a defender intentionally bats a loose ball backward into his own end zone to avoid a turnover and it becomes dead there, that is textbook responsibility by the defense. On a try, that is a one-point safety.
Foul by the Defense in the End Zone
Some live-ball fouls by the defense that occur in their end zone are enforced as safeties on normal downs. On a try, that enforcement converts into a one-point safety for the offense. Think of a clear foul in the end zone that removes the offense’s chance to recover or score—rules writers do not want the defense to benefit from that, so they award a point to the offense.
Momentum Exception Clarification
Both the NFL and NCAA have a “momentum” consideration on normal plays: if a defender intercepts near the goal line and his momentum carries him into the end zone, the ball may be placed at the spot of the catch rather than ruling a safety. On try plays, however, if the defender later advances or laterals the ball and causes it to be in the end zone by his own action, momentum protection may no longer apply. Each league’s interpretation can be technical, but in simple terms: when the defense clearly creates the end-zone situation on the try, expect the one-point safety.
Why You Rarely See It
Four reasons keep the one-point safety rare in the NFL:
- Try plays are short and heavily coached. There is less space and time to make multiple errors.
- Defenders taught to “get upfield or get down” avoid retreating into their end zone once a return stalls.
- Special teams units drill “no backward laterals” on tries unless a return is clearly open.
- Officials whistle quickly once the ball is clearly dead, limiting extended chaos.
Even so, blocked kicks have risen slightly with the longer extra point distance in recent seasons. More blocks mean more live-ball tries, which means—very occasionally—the right (or wrong) mix for a one-point safety can emerge.
Coaching and Strategy Implications
For the Defense
Coaches preach: if you get a block or takeaway on a try and you are behind the goal line, never retreat sideways into your own end zone. Secure the ball, get upfield, or go down in the field of play. Do not lateral behind yourself unless the return lane is clean. In short, eliminate the risk of being responsible for a dead ball in your own end zone.
For the Offense
Special teams coordinators emphasize: after a block, pursue under control. You do not need to score to win that snap; you only need the defense to make a mistake. If your rushers flush a returner backward and he panics, you can win a one-point safety by making the clean tackle in the end zone. Play to the whistle, because the try is live for both teams.
For the Holder and Kicker
On a botched snap or block that stays behind the line, the offense may still try to run for two. But if the ball has moved past the line and the defense has it, the priority is transition to defense. Do not commit an unnecessary foul; the try’s value is low, but a penalty can create a problem on the kickoff.
Broadcast Clues and How to Explain It Fast
If you ever see a try devolve into a backward chase and end with the defense tackled in its own end zone, expect the referee to announce a one-point safety. Explain it to confused friends like this: “It’s still the extra point play. The defense put the ball in their own end zone and got tackled. That’s a safety, but on the extra point it’s only worth one. So the offense gets one point.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the offense score a one-point safety on a normal play?
No. Only on the try after a touchdown.
What if the offense fumbles the snap on the extra point and the defense falls on it in the end zone?
If the offense’s fumble or kick put the ball in the defense’s end zone and the defense did not create that situation, it is not a one-point safety. The defense is not responsible. In most such cases, the try ends with no score, or the defense may attempt a return if they secure the ball in the field of play.
Can the defense get one point on the try?
No. The defense can only get two points on a return. Single points on tries belong to the offense, either by successful kick or by a one-point safety.
What if a defender commits holding in his own end zone during the try?
Fouls by the defense in their end zone that would be a safety on a normal down can lead to a one-point safety on the try. The exact enforcement depends on the foul type and timing, but yes—that is a pathway.
Does the team who scored the touchdown still kick off after a one-point safety?
Yes. The one-point safety simply finalizes the try. The team that scored the touchdown kicks off as usual.
Has it happened in the NFL?
There has not been a recorded NFL regular-season or postseason one-point safety to date. College football has had a few, which is why fans most often hear about it from NCAA highlight packages.
Simple Visualizations You Can Picture
The “Retreat Spiral”
Picture a defender with a blocked kick at the 10-yard line. He runs sideways, then backward to avoid tacklers, and the pursuit funnels him all the way into the end zone. He is hit and drops on the ball. Whistle. One-point safety. The offense adds one point without kicking the ball through the uprights.
The “Backwards Lateral Bomb”
Imagine a desperate last-second throw backward that sails high, bounces at the 2-yard line, and skids into the end zone. A teammate falls on it and gets touched down. Because the defense threw that backward pass, the defense created the responsibility for the ball in the end zone. Result: one-point safety.
Rule of Thumb Summary
Memorize this one sentence: On a try, if the defense is responsible for the ball becoming dead in its own end zone, the offense gets one point. That is the one-point safety, and that simple idea will guide you through every replay angle and rules discussion.
Practical Tips for New Fans
- When chaos breaks out on a try, do not look away. Try plays are short and often decisive.
- Watch the direction of the ball. Forward toward midfield is safe for the defense; backward toward their own end zone is where trouble starts.
- If you hear “safety on the try,” it always means one point for the offense. You will never see “two-point safety on the try.”
- Expect the scoreboard to move from 6 to 7 without a successful kick if a one-point safety is called.
A Quick Comparison: Try Scoring Outcomes at a Glance
For clarity, here are the possible outcomes on a try and who gets the points:
- Successful kick through uprights: Offense +1
- Run or pass into end zone by offense: Offense +2
- Return into offense’s end zone by defense: Defense +2
- Defense causes safety in own end zone during try: Offense +1 (the one-point safety)
- No score, ball dead otherwise: +0
Why the One-Point Safety Matters
Even if you never see one in a game you watch, the one-point safety tells a story about football’s rules. It shows how the sport values fairness and consistency. Responsibility for the ball’s location dictates consequences, even on a try. And because a single point can swing late-game strategy, knowing this rule can help fans understand coaching decisions—like why special teams coaches are so conservative with laterals on tries and why offenses chase blocked kicks with urgency.
Putting It All Together
Let’s wrap the whole rule into a single, easy flow:
- Touchdown is scored → we do a try.
- During the try, the ball stays live until the whistle.
- If the defense gains control and then puts the ball into its own end zone (by running backward, lateraling, batting, or committing a foul there), and the ball becomes dead in that end zone → one-point safety for the offense.
- Score is adjusted by +1 for the offense, try is over, kickoff follows.
Conclusion
The NFL’s one-point safety is a perfect example of how a simple principle—responsibility for the ball’s position—applies even in the game’s strangest corners. It is not a trick; it is not a loophole. It is the logical outcome of a defense causing its own end-zone trouble during the try. While vanishingly rare in the NFL, it remains an important part of the rulebook and a favorite among rules enthusiasts and broadcasters alike.
Now you know exactly what to watch for: a chaotic try, a defense that drifts or laterals backward, the ball dead in the defense’s own end zone, and the referee awarding one point to the offense. If you ever see one live, you will be the most informed person in the room—and you will understand why a single point can be the cleanest expression of football’s most basic rule.