How many yards is the penalty in the NFL for a chop block?

The NFL penalty for a chop block is a 15-yard loss. A chop block occurs when an offensive player blocks a defender at or below the thigh while another offensive player is engaging that same defender above the waist, creating a dangerous high-low block.

The rule exists primarily to protect defenders’ knees and legs. A player whose upper body is occupied by one blocker may be unable to protect himself when a second blocker attacks low. The NFL rulebook distinguishes a chop block from related illegal blocks, but the standard penalty for the defined foul is 15 yards.

This penalty is often confused with an ordinary cut block, in which one blocker goes low against a defender. A chop block specifically involves coordinated contact by two offensive players at different heights. Depending on the circumstances, the foul can also affect possession or the down, but the yardage penalty itself is 15 yards.