The NFL penalty for intentional grounding is 10 yards, along with a loss of down. Intentional grounding occurs when a quarterback deliberately throws a forward pass into an area without an eligible receiver, usually to avoid being sacked or losing more yardage. The rule protects the defense from quarterbacks escaping pressure by simply throwing the ball away.
The penalty is normally enforced from the previous spot, so the offense loses 10 yards and must repeat the down’s loss. A quarterback may legally throw the ball away if he is outside the tackle box and the pass reaches at least the line of scrimmage. Spiking the ball immediately after receiving the snap is also legal, but it costs a down and must be done promptly.
A common mix-up is assuming intentional grounding is always a spot foul. If the quarterback is in his own end zone when the foul occurs, the result is a safety rather than an ordinary 10-yard penalty. The rule’s exact enforcement can therefore depend on field position.