• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Home
  • Learn Baseball
    • Basic Baseball Overview
    • Baseball Terms
    • Baseball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Basketball
    • Basic Basketball Overview
    • Basketball Terms
    • Basketball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Football
    • Basic Football Overview
    • Football Terms
    • Football Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Ice Hockey
    • Basic Ice Hockey Overview
    • Ice Hockey Terms
  • Learn Soccer
    • Basic Soccer Overview
    • Soccer Terms
  • BLOG
    • Shopping Guides
    • The Locker
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NCAAB
    • NCAAF
    • College Sports
    • Soccer
    • MMA & Boxing
    • THE SCRAPS
    • GIMME!
  • More Sports Lingo
    • Learn Bowling
      • Basic Bowling Overview
      • Bowling Terms
    • Learn Golf
      • Basic Golf Overview
      • Golf Terms
    • Learn Tennis
      • Tennis Overview
      • Tennis Terms
    • Winter Olympics
      • Curling
      • Figure Skating
      • Downhill & Cross Country Skiing
      • Snowboarding
      • Bobsled
    • Archery
    • Billiards
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Cycling & Biking
    • Disc Golf
    • Dog Mushing
    • Fencing
    • Field Hockey
    • Gymnastics
    • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
    • Motorsports & Car Racing
    • Pickleball
    • Rodeo
    • Rowing
    • Rugby
    • Shooting Sports
    • Skateboarding
    • Sports Betting
    • Swimming
    • Table Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

A Place To Learn Sports. On And Off The Field.

You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘R’ / Roughing The Passer

Roughing The Passer

rough*ing the pass*er

What Is The Definition Of Roughing The Passer In Football?

Roughing The Passer Definition In Football - Meanings & Examples

1. This is a penalty in football that occurs when a defensive player (or players) hits the passer after they have released the football. The passer is usually the quarterback, but can also at times be another offensive player who is trying to make a forward pass.

The defense is only allowed to make contact with the quarterback while they are in possession of the ball, such as to make a tackle or sack. However, once they have released the ball, a defensive player can only make contact with the passer if their momentum has carried them into the passer. The impact and judgment of the contact into the quarterback is up to the referee to decide, and is done so on a play-by-play basis.

Roughing the passer may also be called if a defensive player does either of the following:

1. Makes helmet-to-helmet contact with the quarterback
2. The player commits an intimidating act on the quarterback or passer, such as slamming the player to the ground too excessively.

The result of a roughing the passer penalty is 15 yards and an automatic first down.

Examples Of How Roughing The Passer Is Used In Commentary

1. Williams lets his emotions get the best of him, slamming his head into the quarterback well after the pass, resulting in roughing the passer and an automatic first down.

SportsLingo Goes The Extra-Inch With The Meaning Of Roughing The Passer

The NFL implemented the roughing the passer penalty to help protect the quarterback. When the quarterback is throwing the ball, they are left defenseless and have a high risk of injury if they are hit in the act of throwing. By creating this rule, it requires the defender to be more aware and therefore, reduces injuries to the players.

The only time a quarterback is open to contact after passing the ball is if they re-enter the play to:

  • Block a defender
  • Tackle a defender who is in possession of the ball, such as when they have recovered a fumble or intercepted a pass.

Sports The Term Is Used

1. Football

Join Our Community

From The Locker

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Today marks 25 years since the untimely death of Florence Griffith Joyner. In her 38 years, she achieved some of the greatest accomplishments in … [Read More...]

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Back in the early days of professional baseball, a clean-cut look was required for players. So when the House of David baseball team rolled into town, … [Read More...]

Unscripted with SportsLingo

Shaped By Sports | Tamara Donelson Is Unscripted

Shaped By Sport

How Tamara Donelson fell in love with mountain biking in spite of herself — and why she stepped back from the sport she loved to rediscover fun on her … [Read More...]

Jim Cavale, Unscripted

The Athlete’s Entrepreneur

Jim Cavale left baseball to pursue entrepreneurship — and he’s helped thousands of student-athletes in the process Jim Cavale is competitive by … [Read More...]

Browse Our Sports Dictionary For The Latest Sports Terms & Jargon

  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | About Us | Contact Us
Copyright © 2025 · SportsLingo.com, a BrainBoost Media LLC. property.

Disclaimer: SportsLingo is an Amazon Associate and earns revenue from qualifying purchases.

In addition, SportsLingo may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from other affiliate networks.