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Why the NFL goal posts aren’t where they used to be

February 11, 2024

(NEXSTAR) — Whether you’re an avid NFL watcher or it’s rookie viewing season, there are areas you’re probably pretty familiar with. It’s a goal post.

They are bright yellow and can be found at either end of the field. Kicking the ball into the goal post earns you an extra point or his three points, and missing the 18-foot-6-inch gap will elicit gasps or cheers, depending on which team you’re rooting for.

But like many things in the NFL, goalposts have evolved over time.

Initially, the placement and design of NFL goalposts in the late 1890s was inspired by rugby, according to . Pro Football Hall of Fame. It looked like an H shape and was located on the goal line. In the photo on the left below you can see a modern rugby field, and on the right you can see his 1912 photo of a football field (albeit a university stadium). In both cases, you can see that the goalposts are on a line in front of the end zone (or try zone in rugby).

Aerial view of Brewery Field, home of the Bridgend Ravens. Bridgend. Photo date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024. PA photo. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)

In the late 1920s, the NFL pushed the goalposts up to the end line, or the last line of the end zone, as we see today. This was in accordance with the NCAA rules followed by the NFL at the time. Pro Football Hall of Fame I will explain.

However, this led to fewer field goals and more tied games. alliance. When the NFL created its own rules in 1933, it decided to move the posts forward again to the goal line. Of course, that led to more field goals and fewer tied games.

You can see those field goals moved up in the photo below. The left side is 1956 championship game A game between the New York Giants and Chicago Bears at Yankee Stadium, and on the right a 1958 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

(Original caption) On December 30, 1956, in the early stages of the championship game between the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears at Yankee Stadium, soccer official Sam Wilson (striped shirt) was in deep trouble. did. He couldn’t do it with Wilson, who officiated the game. When New York’s Mel Triplett burst through the middle to score the first Giant touchdown, he couldn’t get out of the way right away. In the photo above, Wilson crashes to the ground after being belted by Triplett (white jersey). Bear defenders Ray Smith, 20, and J.C. Caroline, 25, surround Triplett and the hapless referee as New York’s Jack Stroud sprawls on the left side. In the photo below, Wilson is completely buried under the pileup as the triplets cross the goal line. Back judge George Lennix (right) signals the score as Ray Smith crashes into the goal post and Triplett’s try is wasted. The Giants outscored the Bears 47-7. (Getty via Bettmann/Contributor)

According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL goal posts have towered over the goal line for more than 30 years. Then, in 1966, the rules changed again.

This time, the goal posts needed to be offset from the goal line. You can’t see it in the Super Bowl I photo below, but the rules also required the posts to be bright gold.

Los Angeles, California – January 15, 1967: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Max McGee, No. 85, takes a 13-yard touch from quarterback Bart Starr in the third quarter of Super Bowl I on January 15. Toss the ball to the referee after catching a down pass. , 1967, against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 to win the professional soccer world championship. 19670115-FR-179 1967 Kidwyler Collection/Diamond Image

Initially, the goalposts were still in the H shape that began at the turn of the century. However, prior to the 1967 season, the NFL required the goal posts to be in a “slingshot” shape, similar to the posts seen today.

You can see some examples of offset “slingshot” goalposts in the slideshow below.

New York Jets cornerback Randy Beverley, 42, turns toward Baltimore Colts wide receiver Jimmy Orr during Super Bowl III against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl on January 12, 1969. He intercepted a pass in the end zone, resulting in a touchback and a 16-7 victory. (Photo by Fred Roe/Getty Images)
Miami, Florida – January 17, 1971: Dallas Cowboys No. 10 punter Ron Widbey during Super Bowl V against the Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl on January 17, 1971 in Miami, Florida. punted out of his own end zone. The Colts defeated the Cowboys 16-13 to win the Pro Football World Championship. 19710117-FR-1971 Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images
WASHINGTON DC – DECEMBER 24: Washington Redskins lie in the end zone after catching a scoring pass during the 1972 NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at RFK Stadium on December 24, 1972 in Washington, DC. Wide Receiver Roy Jefferson #80 The Redskins defeated the Packers 16-3. (Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images)
HOUSTON – JANUARY 13: A wide-angle shot of Rice Stadium during Super Bowl VIII between the Miami Dolphins and the Minnesota Vikings on January 13, 1974 in Houston, Texas. The Dolphins defeated the Vikings 24-7. (Photo courtesy of Focus on Sport, Getty Images)

Players and announcers at the time noted that goal posts on or near the goal line could be used “as an additional blocker” for running and crossing patterns in the end zone, according to Sports Illustrated. report.

It wasn’t until 1974 that goal posts were placed all the way to the end line to allow the offense to score a touchdown instead of a field goal. At the time of the move, the Hall of Fame reported that demand for field goals was increasing. The season before the posts were moved back, there were more than 860 field goal attempts. The following season, that number dropped to 553.

Moving the posts also opened up the end zone for more passing plays, Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown said. S.I..

Since then, the goalposts have remained at the end line.of Current NFL rulebook Goal posts must have crossbars 10 feet above the ground and 18 feet, 6 inches wide. The posts, or bars on each side, should extend 35 feet vertically and be 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Goalposts must also be padded “in a manner prescribed by the league.”

However, the current position of the goalposts doesn’t seem to prevent field goal attempts. NFL statistics It turns out there were over 1,000 field goal attempts this season. Over 900 were successful.