What is pass interference?

Pass interference is one of the most impactful and most debated calls in American football. It can move the ball thirty, forty, or even fifty yards in a single moment, and whether it gets called often comes down to a referee’s judgment in a split second. Here is exactly what the rule says, what counts and what does not, and why it causes so much controversy.

The basic rule

Once a forward pass is in the air, both the receiver and the defender have an equal right to try to catch or deflect it. Neither player is allowed to make illegal contact with the other before the ball arrives. If a defender impedes the receiver’s ability to make a play on the ball through illegal contact, pass interference is called against the defense. The penalty moves the ball to the exact spot where the foul occurred and gives the offense an automatic first down.

What counts as pass interference

Referees look for the following actions when deciding whether to throw the flag:

Grabbing or holding the receiver before the ball arrives, preventing them from running their route or positioning themselves for the catch.

Making contact with the receiver’s arms in a way that stops them from extending to catch the ball.

Cutting in front of the receiver and making contact without playing the ball, sometimes called a “cut-off”.

Turning to face the receiver and pushing or shoving before the ball gets there, even if it looks like the defender is trying to play the ball.

What is allowed

Not every contact between a defender and a receiver is a penalty. Incidental contact that happens naturally while both players are going for the ball is generally not called. A defender who turns and looks for the ball while making contact is in a much stronger position than one who never looks at the ball and simply grabs the receiver. Referees are trained to consider whether the defender was genuinely playing the ball or just interfering with the receiver.

Offensive pass interference

Pass interference can also be called against the offense. This happens when a receiver pushes off a defender to create separation before the ball arrives. Offensive pass interference is a ten-yard penalty from the previous line of scrimmage and does not result in an automatic first down. It is called less often than the defensive version but can still wipe out what looked like a big gain.

Why this call is so controversial

Pass interference is controversial for two reasons. First, the penalty for the defensive version is tied to the spot of the foul, meaning a single call can hand the offense forty yards or more. No other penalty in football has such a variable and potentially enormous impact. Second, the judgment call nature of the rule means that similar plays can be called differently by different referees, or even by the same referee in different games.

For fans, pass interference is one of those calls that will always generate debate. But understanding exactly what referees are looking for makes it much easier to follow the action and form your own view on whether the flag was the right decision.

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