What is a PI penalty?
Asked by: Alycia Lemke | Last update: March 8, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (49 votes)
A PI penalty, or Pass Interference penalty, in American football is called when a player illegally hinders an eligible receiver's chance to catch a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage, involving actions like pushing, grabbing, or tripping, resulting in an automatic first down for the offense (often with yardage added, depending on the league). It can be called on offense (Offensive Pass Interference) or defense (Defensive Pass Interference).
What is the pi penalty?
Pass interference occurs when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch the ball. An offensive or defensive player can commit the penalty.
What is the rarest penalty in the NFL?
The rarest NFL penalty is the Palpably Unfair Act, allowing referees to award a touchdown for egregious interference, though it has never been called in the NFL, with the threat of it occurring in recent games. Other extremely rare calls include the Invalid Fair Catch Signal (a returner signals fair catch after the ball hits the ground) and the obscure Fair Catch Kick, requiring unique circumstances for use.
How do you get a pi on offense?
Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, pulling, or cutting in front of the receiver, covering the receiver's face, or pulling on the receiver's hands or arms. It does not include catching or batting the ball before it reaches the receiver.
What does pi stand for in football?
In football, PI stands for Pass Interference, a penalty called when a player illegally hinders an opponent's opportunity to catch a forward pass, typically by pushing, grabbing, or blocking them away from the ball. It applies to both offense (Offensive Pass Interference, OPI) and defense (Defensive Pass Interference, DPI), occurring after the ball is snapped and while it's in the air, beyond one yard past the line of scrimmage, with different penalties for each.
NFL Rules Explained - Defensive Pass Interference| NFL Video Rulebook
What does pi stand for?
"Pi" (π) most famously represents the mathematical constant (approx. 3.14) for a circle's circumference-to-diameter ratio, but the abbreviation "P.I." or "PI" also commonly stands for Principal Investigator (in research), Private Investigator, or Personal Injury (in law), with many other specialized meanings depending on the field, from medicine (protease inhibitor) to typography (pica).
What makes a pi a spot foul?
A PI is given to a defensive player. When they significantly hinder the ability or illegally grab a receiver making them unable to catch a ball. A PI is an automatic first down and a spot foul. So wherever that foul took place is where the ball is then set up.
What is the rarest rule in the NFL?
Some of the weirdest NFL rules involve the "Fair Catch Kick" (a potential 3-point field goal attempt after a fair catch), the "Holy Roller Rule" (restricting who can recover a late-game fumble), strict enforcement of player attire (no bandanas, specific sock lengths), and the ability for the league to step in for "unfair acts" via Rule 17, allowing commissioner intervention for egregious offenses, though rarely used.
What are the 15 yard penalties in football?
15-Yard Penalties in American Football
- Passer is in the act of throwing or has just released a pass.
- Receiver is catching or attempting to catch a pass.
- Runner is already in the grasp of a tackler.
- Kick returner or punt returner is attempting to field a kick in the air.
- Player is on the ground at the end of a play.
What is an example of a pass interference?
Or, picture a defender pushing a receiver before the ball arrives, preventing the receiver from jumping to make a catch. These are clear examples of pass interference. Another example would be a defender extending their arm and preventing a receiver from making a catch.
Is number 69 allowed in football?
Yes, you can have the number 69 in football, especially in the NFL, as rules expanded to allow numbers 0-99 for most positions, though traditionally it's worn by offensive or defensive linemen (like guards, tackles, or defensive tackles) due to older rules, with famous examples like Jared Allen and recent players like Cory Durden wearing it.
Has an NFL player ever refused to pay a fine?
Yes, NFL coach Sean Payton publicly stated he refused to pay a $100,000 COVID-19 fine in 2020, telling Jon Gruden he was the only one who paid, though the league never confirmed if it was ultimately collected, and players generally pay fines or face further discipline, with money often going to charity.
What's the craziest comeback in football history?
The craziest football comebacks include the Minnesota Vikings overcoming a 33-0 deficit against the Colts in 2022 (largest NFL comeback), Barcelona's 6-1 "Remontada" vs. PSG (4-0 first leg loss), and the Tottenham Hotspur Champions League miracle vs. Ajax, plus historical shocks like Germany's 1954 World Cup win over Hungary from 2-0 down, highlighting dramatic shifts in momentum across American and European football.
What is rule 7 in football?
Law 7 - The Duration of the Match. 1. Periods of play. A match lasts for two equal halves of 45 minutes which may only be reduced if agreed between the referee and the two teams before the start of the match and is in accordance with competition rules. 2.
What is the most called penalty in football?
The top 3 penalties in football are a false start, offsides, and offensive holding, according to RefrSports.com. The record for the most penalties in an NFL game was 37 when the Bears played the Browns in 1952. The teams combined for 374 yards of penalties.
Why did the NFL get rid of challenging pass interference?
The NFL got rid of challenging pass interference because the one-season experiment (2019) was a "failed experiment," slowing down games with little success, as very few calls were overturned (around 16% success rate), highlighting the subjective nature of PI and leading to frustration and a lack of effective application, ultimately causing the league to axe it after one year.
What is rule 17 in the NFL?
NFL Rule 17 deals with "Unfair Acts" and gives the Commissioner broad power to investigate and take action (like overturning results or replaying parts of games) in extraordinary situations that unfairly affect a game's outcome, though it has never been officially invoked to alter a game's result, despite fan and media calls for it in controversial moments, such as recent ones involving the Buffalo Bills.
What is the rule 12 in football?
Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.
Is the red zone 10 or 20 yards?
The Red Zone in American football is the area from the opponent's 20-yard line to the goal line, which covers 20 yards, not 10. It's a critical area where scoring opportunities increase, leading to strategic shifts for both offense and defense.
Why can't you wear 0 in the NFL?
In 1973, the NFL standardized jersey numbers by position group, at which point the only players who were given single-digit uniform numbers were quarterbacks, punters and placeholders, but there was a catch -- no one was granted No. 0.
Has there ever been a 70 yard field goal?
Yes, Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little kicked a 70-yard field goal in the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers in August 2025, which would have set a new NFL record but didn't count officially. He later set the official NFL record with a 68-yard field goal in a regular season game in November 2025, breaking Justin Tucker's previous mark.
What is the holy roller rule?
During the off-season, the league added a provision to the rule book about fumbles after the two-minute warning that allows only the player who fumbled the ball to advance it. As such, the rule change implemented will forever prevent the “Holy Roller” from happening again.
What is the rarest rule in football?
The rarest rule in football is arguably the "Fair Catch Kick," allowing a team to attempt a free, unblockable field goal after a fair catch, though the most obscure scoring event is the "One-Point Safety" during a conversion attempt, both rarely seen due to highly specific conditions. While the fair catch kick was successfully executed recently (December 2024), it hadn't been since 1976, highlighting its extreme rarity.
How much bigger is an NFL ball than college?
College footballs are 10.5 inches to 11.5 inches long and they're 27 to 28.5 inches in circumference. An NFL football is 11 to 11.25 inches long and they're 28 to 28.5 inches in circumference.
What is offensive pi?
DEFINITION. It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player's opportunity to catch the ball.