runback
noun
run·back ˈrən-ˌbak 
: a run made in football after catching an opponent's kick or intercepting a pass
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Two epic plays: James Harrison’s 100-yard interception runback for a touchdown as the clock ran out in the first half and Santonio Holmes’ unbelievable catch of a Ben Roethlisberger pass to win the game in the waning seconds. 
Al Michaels, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2022 Auburn hasn’t allowed many big returns on either kickoffs or punts and doesn’t return punts particularly well, but kickoff return man Nehemiah Pritchett saved the Tigers with a 72-yard runback vs. Georgia State. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 24 Nov. 2021 Fleurima, a senior, scored his first career return touchdown with a 32-yard runback in the first quarter. Patrick Z. Mcgavin, chicagotribune.com, 16 Oct. 2021 The fourth-round draft pick out of Iowa State scored on a 99-yard runback last week at San Francisco to become the first NFL player with multiple kickoff return touchdowns in a season since Cordarrelle Patterson had two for the Vikings in 2016. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 5 Dec. 2021 Thorne threw an interception on an end-of-half Hail Mary attempt that nearly turned into a big play for the Terps until his tackle on the runback. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 13 Nov. 2021 The speedster had a 2-yard punt return and a 22-yard runback on a kickoff. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Nov. 2021 Cannon had a 29-yard runback on his lone return Sunday and, on kickoff coverage, upended Jakeem Grant for his fifth solo special-teams tackle, the most on the team. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Nov. 2021 Olszewski fielded the ball at the 4-yard line and, with the help of Henry, was able to return the ball 31 yards — his longest runback of the season. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Oct. 2021 See More
Al Michaels, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2022 Auburn hasn’t allowed many big returns on either kickoffs or punts and doesn’t return punts particularly well, but kickoff return man Nehemiah Pritchett saved the Tigers with a 72-yard runback vs. Georgia State. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 24 Nov. 2021 Fleurima, a senior, scored his first career return touchdown with a 32-yard runback in the first quarter. Patrick Z. Mcgavin, chicagotribune.com, 16 Oct. 2021 The fourth-round draft pick out of Iowa State scored on a 99-yard runback last week at San Francisco to become the first NFL player with multiple kickoff return touchdowns in a season since Cordarrelle Patterson had two for the Vikings in 2016. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 5 Dec. 2021 Thorne threw an interception on an end-of-half Hail Mary attempt that nearly turned into a big play for the Terps until his tackle on the runback. Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, 13 Nov. 2021 The speedster had a 2-yard punt return and a 22-yard runback on a kickoff. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Nov. 2021 Cannon had a 29-yard runback on his lone return Sunday and, on kickoff coverage, upended Jakeem Grant for his fifth solo special-teams tackle, the most on the team. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Nov. 2021 Olszewski fielded the ball at the 4-yard line and, with the help of Henry, was able to return the ball 31 yards — his longest runback of the season. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1905, in the meaning defined above
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