When does a backward pass end?

A backward pass is a type of play in football where the ball is thrown parallel to or behind the line of scrimmage. The correct assertion regarding when a backward pass ends is when it is caught, recovered, or goes out of bounds.

This means that as long as the ball remains in play—whether it is caught by a teammate, recovered by a player after it has been dropped, or if it rolls out of bounds—the play continues. If the ball hits the ground, it constitutes a dead ball situation, and the play ends since a backward pass must be controlled by a player to still be considered active. The concept of a backward pass being "intercepted" or "never ending" does not align with the rules, as it suggests situations that do not appropriately define the boundaries of the play. A backward pass ceases in functionality if the ball is not maintained in play, thus reinforcing that the definitions of when the ball is actively in play focus on possession and out-of-bounds situations.