A turnover in football can shift the momentum of a game completely and directly affect the outcome. By taking possession away from their opponent and stopping any scoring drives, defenses that force turnovers provide a spark of opportunity for their team. Offenses that commit turnovers shoot themselves in the foot, lose scoring chances, place more pressure on their defense, and make it harder for their team to win the game. 

There are multiple ways a team can force turnovers in gridiron football. Fumbles and interceptions are the only turnovers officially counted in football statistics, but there are more ways to take possession away from an opponent. Forcing a turnover on downs or safety, or blocking a field goal or punt, are alternate ways to shift possession of the football. 

While there’s no way to guarantee turnovers, coaches prepare their players to maximize the potential for forcing turnovers and mitigate the risk of committing them. Preaching ball security on offense and field awareness, quick reaction time, and tackling form on defense gives teams a better chance of winning the so-called “turnover battle”.

In this guide, we’ll provide an introduction to turnovers in gridiron football and discuss everything you need to know about them as a coach or player. Continue reading to learn: 

• The definition of a turnover in football
• Types of football turnovers 
• How turnovers impact football games
• Whether you can predict turnovers in football
• How to coach teams to win the turnover battle
• Frequently asked questions about turnovers in gridiron football

What Is A Turnover In Football?

A turnover in gridiron football occurs when the team with the ball loses possession and the opposing team gains possession. Most turnovers involve the offense turning the ball over to the opposing defense.

There are rare occasions where non-offensive players lose possession, including: 

• A defensive player who gains possession via turnover advances the ball and commits a turnover of their own, with the offense regaining possession. 
• A punt or kick returner loses possession of the ball during the return, giving possession back to the kicking team.

When a turnover occurs, the ball is “live” and the defense can advance the ball toward their end zone. Turnovers can swing the game’s momentum in the snap of a finger. At minimum, a turnover results in an immediate change in possession and halts the offense’s drive. A big return can set up high-percentage scoring chances or, best case scenario, allow the defense to score directly.

• For example: A turnover in the red zone can swing momentum from a potential touchdown opportunity to the opposing team’s offense gaining possession in their red zone. If the opposing team capitalizes with a touchdown of their own, that’s a twelve-point swing at minimum. 

Types of Turnovers in Football

There are two events officially classified as turnovers in the NFL and other American football leagues: interceptions and fumbles. Although there are only two types of “official” turnovers in the stat sheet, there are other ways to turn the ball over to the other team without punting or kicking a field goal. 

The different types of turnovers in football include: 

• Fumble 
• Interception
• Turnover on Downs 
• Special Teams “Turnovers” (Blocked Punt & Block Field Goal) 
• Safety

Fumble 

A fumble is any act, other than a pass or kick, which results in a loss of player possession after having control of the ball. It becomes a turnover when an offensive ball carrier loses possession and a defensive player gains complete control, recovering the fumble. The defender can recover the fumble either before or after the ball strikes the ground. 

Fumbles can occur on either passing or running plays. They’re also possible on kickoffs and punts. The only instance where a fumble is not a live ball is if a runner intentionally fumbles forward. That’s ruled a forward pass, and is either incomplete or a penalty for an illegal forward pass. 

Interception

An interception occurs when the offense throws a forward pass and an opposing defender secures control of the ball inbounds prior to the ball touching the ground. It’s a type of turnover in American football where the quarterback (or another offensive player in a trick play) intends to complete a forward pass to an offensive player, but a defender intercepts the pass before the offensive player gains control. 

Interceptions take place when a defensive player catches any forward pass intended for an offensive player in bounds, whether it’s a legal pass or not. If an offensive player catches an illegal forward pass, the passing team is penalized. When a defender intercepts an illegal forward pass, they can decline the penalty and retain possession of the ball. 

There are various ways to make an interception. Whether it’s a 50+ yard Hail Mary or a quick, short shovel pass, as long as a defender completes the catch in bounds on a forward pass they take possession away from the offense. 

Ways to Intercept a Pass

Some different passing play scenarios where an interception can occur include a defender: 

• Making a clean catch on an errant deep ball
• Retaining possession after wrestling with an offensive player for control on a jump ball, deep pass, or any other scenario where the offensive and defensive player both have an opportunity to make a play on a pass
• Anticipating and jumping a route without the quarterback recognizing or before an offensive player can get to their spot, making a clean interception
• Catching a tipped ball, whether it was bobbled/dropped by an offensive player or deflected by a defensive player 
• Gaining complete control of a pass around the defensive line (typically made by a defensive end or tackle trying to block the passing lane) 
• Jumping a screen pass or shovel pass

Turnover On Downs 

A turnover on downs occurs when a team attempts an offensive play on fourth down and fails to convert for a first down. Failure to convert on a fourth down play results in a turnover on downs and a change in possession to the opposing team.

While not technically a turnover in the record books, a turnover on downs turns possession over from the offensive team to their opponent after being stopped by the defense.  

Special Teams “Turnovers” 

There are two instances on special teams plays when the receiving team stops the kicking team from their objective: blocked field goals and blocking punts. 

Blocked field goal 

A blocked field goal occurs when the receiving team breaks through the offensive line and blocks the kicker’s field goal attempt behind the neutral zone. As long as the kick fails to cross the neutral zone, the ball is live and any player may recover and advance the ball. 

There are multiple possible outcomes, including:

• A member of the receiving team picks up the live ball, gains possession, and advances it. The player runs as far as they can, giving their offense the best possible field position or, best case, scoring a touchdown on the recovery. 
• A member of the receiving team falls on the ball to gain possession. Their offense takes the field at the spot of the recovery in youth, high school, and college football leagues. NFL players can fall on the ball, stand up, and advance it, as long as no player from the kicking team touches them before they get up. 
• A member of the kicking team recovers the ball, and the opposing offense takes possession at the spot of recovery. 

Blocked punt

A blocked punt occurs when the receiving team breaks through the offensive line and blocks the punter’s attempt behind the neutral zone. As long as the punt fails to cross the neutral zone, the ball is live and any player may recover and advance the ball. 

Multiple potential outcomes include: 

• A player from the receiving team picks up the live ball, gains possession, and advances it. They advance the ball as close to the end zone as possible, giving their offense a high-percentage scoring chance or scoring a touchdown on the recovery. 
• A member of the receiving team falls on the ball to gain possession. Their offense takes the field at the spot of the recovery in youth, high school, and college leagues. NFL players can fall on the ball, stand up, and advance it, as long as no player from the punting team touches them before they get up. 
• A member of the punting team recovers the ball, and the opposing offense takes possession at the spot of recovery.

Safety

A safety occurs when the defense stops the offense on or behind its own goal line. The defensive team earns two points for a safety, and the offensive team kicks the ball to the defensive team who takes over possession. 

Another way the defense can force a safety is when the offense commits a penalty behind its own goal line. Safeties can occur during normal offensive plays and certain special teams situations, like when a team is forced to punt from their own end zone. 

Like blocked kicks, blocked punts, and turnover on downs, safeties are not officially scored as turnovers. Because they force a change of possession and can shift momentum, we’ve included them in this resource. By earning two points and possession of the ball, a safety can be more impactful than a normal fumble or interception that’s not returned for a touchdown.

How Turnovers Impact Football Games

Turnovers directly impact the momentum and outcome of football games. They stifle offensive production while simultaneously giving the ball to the opposing team, who attempts to capitalize with a score of its own. Teams with a positive turnover differential, which is the difference between turnovers forced and turnovers committed, win a majority of games played. 

Here are a few reasons how turnovers impact games and why they’re important:  

• Change of possession and shift in field position
• Momentum  
• Touchdowns 
• Statistical anomalies 
• Turnover margin 

Change of Possession and Shift in Field Position 

A turnover is arguably the most impactful type of play in gridiron football. At its core, a turnover creates two major shifts: 

• Change of possession: A turnover ends the offense’s momentum and scoring opportunity, while kickstarting the opposing team’s next offensive drive. 
• Shift in field position: The opposing team begins its next possession where the turnover ended, providing advantageous field position.

The combination of a possession change and shift in field position can swing the flow of the game and score in a matter of seconds.

Example

Scenario: It’s a tie game late in the fourth quarter and the offense is driving toward the end zone. At the seven yard line, the running back fumbles in the red zone. The defense recovers all the way back to the two yard line, setting up a red zone opportunity for its team. 

Impact: That’s a potential two-touchdown swing in one play. The team that committed the turnover goes from staring down a go-ahead score late in the game to defending against a potential game-winning score by its opponent.  

Momentum

Turnovers are momentum shifters in gridiron football. While not objectively measurable, momentum undoubtedly plays a role in a team’s chances of winning. Even if you don’t agree it affects a game’s outcome, momentum can be defined as “strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events.” 

Let’s break that down to show how momentum through turnovers influences the outcome of American football games: 

• Strength or force gained: A team previously defending against a score gains possession of the ball, better field position, and a scoring opportunity (strength or force). 
• By motion or a series of events: The team gains strength by forcing a turnover where their opponent’s offense starts a play with possession of the ball and, through a series of events, loses it. 

Possession of the ball in good field position often increases the statistical likelihood of winning the game compared to defending against a team in possession of the ball trying to score on you. 

In simpler terms, a turnover can be a major momentum shifter by deflating the team that lost the ball and energizing the team that gained it. It ends a scoring opportunity for one team while providing an advantageous starting field position for the other. 

Example

Scenario: It’s under the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter of a competitive game. Team A is down 24-21 but driving on offense, at their opponents 30 yard line and well within field goal range. They have no timeouts left. Team A’s quarterback takes the snap on 1st and 10 and throws a quick slant to their wide receiver. Team B jumps the route, intercepts the pass, and runs it back to midfield. They (Team B) take possession at the 50-yard-line with a little over one minute left in the game. 

Impact: The turnover severely disrupted Team A’s momentum, as they lost an opportunity to advance downfield and score to take the lead. Even worse, they were already in field goal position with an opportunity to tie the game. With no timeouts for Team A and a minute and change remaining, Team B can now run out the clock. By turning the ball over and giving them possession at midfield, Team A’s turnover completely shifted the flow of the game and all but secured a win for Team B. 

Touchdowns

Certain turnovers lead to touchdowns, literally changing the score of the game in a single play. Interceptions, fumbles, blocked punts, and blocked field goals can all lead to touchdowns for the defensive team. 

• A scoop and score occurs when a defensive player picks up a fumbled ball and runs it back for a touchdown. 
• A pick-six occurs when a defensive player intercepts a pass and returns it directly to the opponent’s end zone for a touchdown. 

There’s no better way to impact the game than directly changing the score. Turnovers recovered for touchdowns are a miracle for the team that forces it and a devastating blow for the team that loses possession as a result. 

Example

Scenario: Team A is trailing Team B by a touchdown, 14-7, with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Team A has the ball on offense at the goal line. Because Team B received the opening kickoff, Team A has the chance to tie the game to close out the first half and start the second half with possession and a scoring opportunity. Team A snaps the ball and runs a running play, but their running back fumbles the handoff. They loose possession when Team B recovers the loose ball and runs it all the way back for a touchdown. Team B takes a 21-7 lead into halftime. 

Impact: Team A went from a tie game with the chance to strike first in the third quarter, to down two touchdowns at halftime. It’d be one thing if Team A only lost the fumble. Failing to convert that close to the end zone would hurt, but they’d still get the ball to start the second half with a chance to even up the score. Instead, Team A has to claw out of a 14-point deficit (and that’s only to tie the game). 

Statistical Anomalies

Turnovers are statistical anomalies. With less than 3% of passes resulting in interceptions and less than 1% of run plays ending in a fumble recovered by the defense, data shows that turnovers are statistically rare events. 

Because they’re so unlikely, turnovers have a greater impact on the game than most common plays. They can cause frustration for the offense and demoralize the quarterback, while energizing and fueling the defense. 

An interception or fumble can be a crushing blow to an offense trying to score with little time left in the game, as it immediately halts the offense’s drive. If they go three-and-out and have to punt, at least they don’t give away free field position and still have a chance to get a stop. Since they don’t happen often, lost turnovers hurt exponentially when they occur. 

Turnover Margin 

A team’s turnover margin, or turnover differential, is the difference between the number of forced turnovers and turnovers lost. It can be viewed in the context of any time period: a single drive, half, game, season, or career. 

When it comes to impacting a single game, a positive turnover margin is a significant predictor correlated with winning that game. Teams with a positive turnover differential in a game win a significant percentage of the time. 

Impact: In the NFL, a positive differential of one (+1) leads to a 69.6% win rate. Increase the differential to +2 and win rate jumps to 83.9%. Forcing three more turnovers than your opponent (+3) takes your win rate to 90.7%. In summary, winning the turnover battle increases the likelihood of winning the game. 

Is There A Way To Predict Turnovers in a Football Game? 

As we mentioned before, turnovers are statistically rare events and appear to occur randomly. Studies have been conducted to prove whether turnovers can be predicted or not. 

One study found that machine learning models can be developed to predict the likelihood of a turnover occurring on the next play from scrimmage. 

• Under certain conditions, they found both fumbles and interceptions can be anticipated at low false discovery rates (less than 15%). 
• According to the study, “this means that when a turnover is predicted on the impending play from scrimmage, a high degree of confidence” (85% or more) “can be associated with that prediction.”

The Importance of Watching Film

Whether or not there’s sufficient evidence beyond one study, certain practices and attention to details help anticipate scenarios that lead to turnovers. Through film study, coaches and players analyze certain tendencies in the opponent’s previous play calls and performances. 

If film analysis identifies certain down and distances where opponents tend to run the same passing concept, that can help increase the likelihood of an interception. The coach calls a defensive set to combat the anticipated offensive play, and the player anticipates a throw that’s been made in previous games under similar circumstances. Simply anticipating the type of play can increase the chances of forcing a turnover. 

Regardless of the source, the ability to anticipate turnovers with some degree of statistical confidence potentially offers significant value for in-game strategies. Coaches can develop and adapt their game plan to mitigate turnover risk on offense and maximize potential for forced turnovers on defense. 

Turnover Differential 

The only statistic with significant supporting evidence for making predictions is turnover differential. While it doesn’t predict the likelihood of a turnover on any given play, it accurately predicts the odds of winning the game by assessing the turnover battle. 

As we previously mentioned, a positive turnover margin in a given game is a significant predictor correlated with winning that game. 

Football Coaching Tips to Dominate the Turnover Battle

Whether you’re a first-year assistant in a youth league or an experienced professional head coach, you can coach your players to protect against or force turnovers. Here are a few tips on how to coach your football team for turnovers, separated by offense and defensive. 

Offense

Your offense has to value the ball and protect it at all costs to avoid turnovers. On this end of the ball, coaching is all about quality control, ball security, and smart decisions. 

Here are a few coaching points and comments to ensure your offense protects the football: 

• Train quarterbacks to stay calm under pressure. Emphasize avoiding risky or panicked throws, limiting potential interceptions. Practice blind side awareness and overall pocket presence to reduce the risk of fumbling the football.  
• Practice and preach ball security for all position players, including quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends, and special teams returners. Emphasize using two hands and securing the ball, and run drills that test their ability to secure the ball under physical duress. 
• Emphasize smart decision making. Turnovers are often the result of poor decisions. As a coach, be vocal about risk versus reward. While you don’t want to neuter your offense or be too conservative, find a balance that prioritizes smart decisions over trying to be a hero. Whether it’s a running back stretching uncontrollably for the goal line and fumbling or a quarterback heaving a deep ball into triple coverage instead of hitting their check down, coach your players to avoid overtly risky plays that can lead to turnovers. 
• Review film. Offensive players can review the opponent’s previous game film to analyze tendencies and common defensive formations they run. This helps the quarterback avoid turning the ball over and other offensive players remain aware of the defenses tendencies. 

Defense

Your approach for coaching the defense on turnovers is opposite of your offense’s mentality. Encourage your players to play physically and force turnovers, whether it’s fumbles or interceptions. 

Here are a few defensive coaching points to help anticipate and force turnovers: 

• Practice stripping the ball. Set time in defensive practice for drills where players work on stripping the ball from offensive players. Peanut punches are one of the most effective ways a defender can force a fumble, so make sure you cover the technique when completing these drills. 
• Practice recovering fumbles. While fumble recoveries are more difficult to practice than the act of stripping the ball, it’s something you can simulate to improve everyone’s ball awareness. Working on ball awareness and pure hustle in practice can pay off come game time. Your defense will react quickly to a fumble and out hustle the opponent to fall on it. 
• Watch films and preach anticipation. Between film study and situational practice, teach anyone dropping back in coverage to read the quarterback and anticipate their decisions. Interceptions rely on reading the quarterback’s eyes, anticipating where they’re going with the ball, and reacting quickly without giving it away or getting burnt.   
• Emphasize clean play. Nothing hurts worse than a pick-six called back for a defensive penalty. While you should preach physicality and anticipation to force turnovers, make sure players use clean technique and follow the rules in doing so.

FAQs About Football Turnovers

What is a high turnover in football?

While there is no specific “high turnover” in football, high turnover can be used to describe several scenarios within American football. 

Some ways that “high turnover” can be applicable in gridiron football include: 

1. A high number of turnovers committed by an offense or forced by a defense in one game 
2. A team that forces a high number of turnovers per game has a high turnover rate
3. A team that forces significantly more turnovers that it commits has a high turnover differential

Is football the only sport with turnovers?

No, other sports incorporate turnovers into the rules. Basketball and ice hockey are the two other major sports that track turnovers as official stats.

Sports like baseball and softball don’t incorporate turnovers.

How many downs before a turnover? 

A turnover on downs, where an offense fails to gain a first down, occurs after four downs. When the offense fails to convert on fourth down, they turn the ball over to the opposing team. 

Regular turnovers, like interceptions and fumbles, can occur at any time in a football game, on any down. 

Is a turnover good in football? 

A turnover in football is good for the team that forces it. Defensive units that force a turnover give their team possession of the ball and advantageous field position while taking possession and any potential scoring opportunities away from their opponent. 

When offenses commit turnovers in football, it’s not good for their team. They lose possession of the ball, ending any scoring opportunities and swinging momentum in the opposing team’s favor.

Teams that force more turnovers than they commit have a positive turnover differential and a higher percentage chance of winning. 

Is a fumble considered a turnover? 

Yes, a fumble is officially considered a turnover in football statistics. 

What is an example of a turnover in football? 

The two “official” examples of turnovers that count as stats in football are interceptions and fumbles. Other ways to turn the ball over that aren’t counted in the record books include blocked punts and field goals, turnover on downs, and safeties. 

Who holds the record for most turnovers committed in a single regular season game?

Individual Record (10)

Jim Hardy, quarterback of the Chicago Cardinals, owns the NFL single-game record for most turnovers committed (10). In a 1950 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hardy turned the ball over 10 times, including 8 intercepted passes and 2 lost fumbles. It was one of the worst individual offensive performances in NFL history against Philadelphia on 9/24/1950.

Team Record (12)

The NFL record for most turnovers committed as a team in a single game is 12, shared by three teams:

• Chicago Cardinals (1950 vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (1965 vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
• Detroit Lions (1942 vs. Chicago Bears)

What team holds the record for most turnovers committed in a single NFL playoff game?

The Buffalo Bills hold the record for most turnovers committed in a single NFL playoff game. They turned the ball over 9 times against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII on January 31st, 1993. The Bills threw 4 interceptions and lost 5 fumbles in the game.

The Houston Oilers (1979 AFC Championship), Detroit Lions (1954 NFL Championship), and Washington Redskins (1940 NFL Championship) are tied with Buffalo. They each committed 9 turnovers in each of the respective playoff games listed.