Muffed punt - wikipedia Muffed punt In gridiron football, a muffed punt is defined as `` touching of the ball prior to possessing the ball ''. A muffed punt occurs when there is an `` uncontrolled touch '' of the football by a player on the returning team after it is punted. This can occur when : The kicking team interferes with the other team 's right to catch the punt A player on the kicking team is struck unaware by the football running down - field to cover the punt. A player attempts to return the ball, makes contact with it but can not retain the ball in his hands and it comes loose. To be a fumble, the receiving team must possess the football, then lose control. In the case of a fumble, the ball is live and can be returned by the team that recovers the ball. In the case of a muffed punt, it is possible for the punting team to recover the ball and continue the drive, but at least in NCAA and NFL rules, they can not advance the ball on that same play. Rules vary by league about how to handle a muffed punt. Nonetheless, a muffed punt is a turnover. In the NFL, a muffed punt recovered by the kicking team can not be challenged by a coach for review because all turnovers are automatically reviewed. Notes Jump up ^ Winnek, Vic. `` Recovery of a muffed catch ''. AllExperts.com. Retrieved 21 October 2007. Jump up ^ `` Muffed Punt Definition - Sporting Charts ''. Jump up ^ Wire, SI. `` Watch : Panthers recover muffed punt, score ''. Gridiron football concepts Codes American Glossary History Early Modern Rules Canadian American -- Canadian comparison Burnside rules Glossary Arena Indoor 9 - man 8 - man 6 - man Flag Touch Street / Backyard Powderpuff Wheelchair Rules of gridiron football codes Levels of play Youth / midget Pop Warner AYF High school Varsity Junior varsity College Club Sprint Semi-pro Professional Practice squad Women 's International Field Lines Yard lines Hash marks Goal line Sidelines Line of scrimmage Field goal range Spaces End zone Red zone Neutral zone Coffin corner Flat Gap Hole Pocket Scoring Touchdown One - point conversion Two - point conversion Field goal Safety Single ( rouge ) Turnovers Fumble Interception Muffed punt Turnover on downs Downs First down Three - and - out Fourth down conversion Dead ball Play clock Timeout Kneel Spike Time warnings 3 min. 2 min. 1 min. Clock management Running out the clock Untimed play Garbage time Statistics Carry Completion Rushing yards Passing yards Passer rating Total quarterback rating Reception Receiving yards Pass deflected Sack Return yards Total offense Yards after catch Yards from scrimmage All - purpose yardage Touchdown pass Practice Two - a-days Oklahoma drill Three - cone drill Film session Officiating Official ( American, Canadian ) Chain crew Penalty Penalty flag Instant replay Miscellaneous Ball Coaching tree Concussions Equipment 12th man Letterman Overtime Running up the score Touchdown celebration Gatorade shower Tuck rule Uniform number Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muffed_punt&oldid=828268356 '' Categories : American football terminology Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 1 March 2018, at 15 : 33. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: where does the term muffed punt come from
Answer: football