Can You Pass the Football More Than Once? Rules and Strategies Explained

Having spent years both on the sidelines as a coach and deep in the rulebooks as a sports analyst, I’ve found that one of the most persistent points of confusion in American football, especially for new fans, revolves around a seemingly simple action: the forward pass. The question, “Can you pass the football more than once?” pops up constantly. It’s a great question because the answer isn’t just a simple yes or no; it’s a gateway to understanding the strategic soul of the game. The core rule is straightforward: during a play from scrimmage, only one forward pass is allowed, and it must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. But the moment we introduce laterals and backward passes, the tactical landscape explodes with possibilities. This distinction is what separates a static, predictable offense from a dynamic, creative one capable of those breathtaking, game-breaking plays we all remember.

Let’s break it down from my perspective. That single, precious forward pass is the offense’s primary weapon for gaining large chunks of yardage quickly. Once that ball crosses the line of scrimmage in the air, thrown from a point beyond it, the play is dead. It’s a hard stop. I’ve seen countless hopeful attempts at a second forward pass turn into immediate flags and lost yards. It’s a rule you learn the hard way in practice. However, and this is the beautiful part, you can throw the ball backwards or laterally as many times as you want during a single play. This isn’t a pass in the technical sense; it’s a lateral or a pitch. Think of the classic hook-and-ladder play, where a receiver catches a forward pass and immediately laterals to a teammate streaking by. That second touch is legal because the ball is moved sideways or backwards. The risk, of course, is monumental. A dropped lateral is a live fumble, a free-for-all that often leads to devastating turnovers. I’ve always been a bit conservative as a strategist; I believe these multi-lateral plays should be reserved for desperate, end-of-game scenarios unless you have a team drilled to perfection. The margin for error is simply too slim.

Now, you might wonder why I’m drawing a connection to a piece of news about a university’s juniors basketball finals. It’s not a direct analogy, but it speaks to the core principle of seizing opportunity within a rigid structure. The article noting that the University of Santo Tomas is back in the UAAP juniors basketball finals after a decade and a half—that’s a 15-year gap—highlights a return to a coveted platform. In football, the single forward pass rule is that rigid structure, the defined platform. What you do within it—the creativity of your play design, the execution of laterals and trick plays—is what defines your team’s chance to seize its moment on the biggest stage. A team that only ever uses its one forward pass is like a team that qualifies for the finals only once every 15 years. A team that masterfully incorporates the threat and occasional execution of multiple laterals is a perennial contender, constantly creating its own opportunities. The rulebook provides the court; the strategy decides the game.

In practical terms, modern offensive schemes have gotten incredibly creative within these constraints. The rise of the “flea flicker” is a perfect example—a play that looks like a run, only for the ball to be lateraled back to the quarterback, who then unleashes that one allowed deep forward pass to a now-wide-open receiver. It works because the first exchange is a handoff or a lateral, not a forward pass. From a statistical viewpoint, and I’m pulling from memory here so forgive any slight imprecision, I recall that in the 2022 NFL season, designed plays involving multiple laterals occurred on average only about 2-3 times per team across the entire 17-game schedule. Yet, when they worked, they resulted in an average gain of over 22 yards, a massive number. The high risk is mirrored by a potentially game-altering reward. Personally, I love when a coach has the guts to call one of these plays mid-game, not just during a Hail Mary. It shows a trust in player intelligence and a desire to inject chaos—controlled chaos—into the opponent’s defensive calculations.

So, to wrap this all together, the answer is nuanced. You absolutely cannot pass the football forward more than once per play from scrimmage. But you can move it backwards or sideways infinitely, turning a single down into a chaotic, thrilling sequence of events. Mastering this distinction is what separates casual play from expert strategy. It’s about knowing the strict boundaries of the rule—the 15-year wait for a finals berth—and then using every ounce of creativity to perform spectacularly within them. As someone who has diagrammed plays until my whiteboard ran out of ink, I can tell you that the most beautiful plays in football are often born from this very limitation. It forces innovation. It demands precision. And when it all comes together, it creates those unforgettable moments that make the sport so compelling to watch, coach, and analyze. The rule isn’t a restriction; it’s the foundation upon which genius is built.