XFL’s Roughnecks Execute Epic Trick Play That Wouldn't Be Legal in NFL

This touchdown play would leave many NFL coordinators scratching their heads.

The XFL’s rulebook allows for some creative plays on offense. In Week 4, the Roughnecks made use of that fact and put on a trick-play display for the ages, leaving both the Guardians’ defense and fans back home absolutely bamboozled when it was all said and done.

Houston’s offense executed a double-pass to perfection against the Guardians on Saturday, fooling the defense completely for an easy six points. Quarterback Brandon Silvers dropped back in the pocket and dumped the ball off to Jontre Kirklin. While the defense may have thought they were about to secure a big play, Kirklin shocked the entire stadium by launching the ball down field to Deontay Burnett for the 49-yard touchdown.

The touchdown had the offensive coordinators fired up, and rightfully so, as they ran the play without a hitch.

THE DOUBLE PASS FOR THE TD 😱@XFLRoughnecks | @XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/6dIm3vekEf

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2023

NFL fans will surely be up in arms after the Roughnecks utilized two forward passes in order to legally score the touchdown under the XFL’s rules, offering an exciting glimpse into one of the alternative league’s more unique rules.

The official rule forward pass rule is stated as follows, via the XFL website: 

“If a team completes a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage, that team may throw a second forward pass, as long as the ball has not crossed the line of scrimmage. Once the ball has passed the line of scrimmage, no forward passes are permitted. The first pass may fall incomplete rather than becoming a fumbled lateral.”

That’s XFL football at its finest.