Major Rule changes 1946
On January 11, 1946 A forward pass that strikes the goal posts is automatically ruled incomplete.
This is sometimes known as the “Baugh/Marshall Rule” after Washington Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh and team owner George Preston Marshall: in the previous year’s Championship Game, the Rams scored a safety when Baugh, attempting a pass from his own end zone, hit the goal posts. The two points provided the margin of victory, as the Rams won the game and the Championship 15–14, while Marshall was so outraged at the outcome that he was a major force in passing this rule change.
The free substitution rule was repealed, and substitutions were limited to no more than three players at a time.
The receiving team is permitted to return punts and missed field goal attempts from behind their own goal line.
The penalty for an invalid fair catch signal is 5 yards from the spot of the signal.
A fair catch signal is valid when it is made while the ball is in flight.
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