In 1906, college football legalized the forward pass—a move that would eventually revolutionize the game. But for the first few decades, strange rules held it back.
From 1906 to 1912, any pass that crossed into the end zone resulted in a touchback, giving the ball to the defense. Even after end zones were introduced in 1912, incomplete passes there still led to touchbacks.
It wasn’t until 1934 that one incompletion in the end zone was allowed per possession—and not until 1938 that only fourth-down incompletions triggered a touchback. These odd limitations neutered the forward pass for years and protected traditional power-based styles favored by figures like Walter Camp.
This video explores how football’s early rulemakers both feared and resisted the passing game, and how their efforts nearly prevented the forward pass from ever evolving into the dynamic weapon we know today. A strange but essential story in college football history.
💥 PATREON – https://patreon.com/hcfbh
💥 JON’S BOOKS:
Been Dead, Never Been To Europe – Memoir About My Death And Recovery – https://amzn.to/3CgnmJP
Manage Your Damage – Heart Attack Survivor – https://amzn.to/3MkIy6i
The Mystery of the Dent in My Head – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMKCB54P
