Common NFL Penalties and What They Cost
Updated November 9, 2026. Rules are based on the 2026 NFL rulebook.
A yellow flag means an official has seen a foul. The penalty usually moves the ball, and sometimes it also awards a first down. The team that was fouled can decline a penalty if the result of the play was better for it.
Before the snap
| Penalty | What it means | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| False start | An offensive player moves illegally before the snap | 5 yards |
| Offside | A defender is across the line when the ball is snapped | 5 yards |
| Encroachment | A defender crosses the line and makes contact before the snap | 5 yards |
| Delay of game | The offense does not snap the ball before the play clock expires | 5 yards |
| Illegal formation | The offense lines up in a way the rules do not allow | 5 yards |
During the play: offense
| Penalty | What it means | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive holding | A blocker grabs or restrains a defender | 10 yards |
| Offensive pass interference | A receiver illegally blocks or pushes off a defender while the pass is in the air | 10 yards |
| Illegal use of hands | A blocker hits a defender in the face or uses hands illegally | 10 yards |
| Intentional grounding | A quarterback under pressure throws the ball away with no receiver nearby | 10 yards or the spot of the pass, plus loss of down |
During the play: defense
| Penalty | What it means | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive holding | A defender grabs a receiver who does not have the ball | 5 yards + first down |
| Illegal contact | A defender initiates contact with a receiver beyond five yards from the line while the quarterback is still in the pocket | 5 yards + first down |
| Illegal use of hands | A defender hits an opponent in the head or uses hands illegally | 5 yards + first down |
| Defensive pass interference | A defender impedes a receiver's chance to catch a pass | First down at the spot of the foul |
| Roughing the passer | A defender hits the quarterback late or illegally after the throw | 15 yards + first down |
| Face mask | A player grabs and twists or pulls an opponent's face mask | 15 yards |
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Taunting and similar acts cost 15 yards. Repeated or serious fouls can also get a player ejected from the game.
Why pass interference matters so much
Most penalties cost five, ten or fifteen yards. Defensive pass interference has no fixed limit, because the offense gets a first down at the place where the foul occurred. On a deep pass, one penalty can gain 40 yards or more. If the foul is in the end zone, the ball goes to the 1-yard line. That is why these calls often swing a game.
How penalties show up in the numbers
On each box score, you will find penalties written like 3-14, which means three penalties for 14 yards. A team's penalty total is often a good clue to why a close game went the way it did.