Week 4, 2025
Adonai Mitchell early celly turns into a touchback
Is this the worst rule in sports?
Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell celebrates a 75-yard pass completion. The problem is he needed 76 yards to score a touchdown. Since the fumble went into and out of the end zone, this is a touchback, and the Rams get the ball on their 20. When significant reversals of fortune like this occur, it inevitably spurs conversation on changing the rule to a lesser sanction.
The call of a touchback was made on the field after a conference of the deep officials, however it is likely there was a replay assist involved.
This is a rule older than the NFL itself and is in place at all levels — except, the spring USFL league has placed a revision in its rulebook to return the ball to the spot of the fumble. We discussed their rule change, and made the case for the merits of the current rule, here:
