QUICK ANSWER
Breaking the plane means the ball reaches the front edge of the goal line while the runner has possession. Picture an invisible wall rising from that line. If the ball touches it, it is a touchdown.
Breaking the plane means the ball reaches the front edge of the goal line while a player has possession of it. When that happens, it is a touchdown.
Picture an invisible wall rising straight up from the goal line. The ball only has to touch that wall. It does not need to go all the way into the end zone.
How The Call Gets Made
On The Field
Officials near the goal line have to make the call in real time. They need to decide whether the ball reached the plane, whether the runner was already down, and whether he still had control of the ball.
Replay Review
In the NFL, scoring plays are reviewed automatically, so a coach does not need to challenge a touchdown.
If the call on the field is no touchdown, a coach can challenge it. In the final two minutes of a half and in overtime, the replay official decides whether to review the play instead.
The call only changes if the video provides clear evidence. The full rules are in the NFL rulebook.
The Pylon
The pylons mark the corners of the end zone and sit on the goal line. If a player with possession hits the pylon with the ball, he has broken the plane. That is why players often reach for the pylon.
Cameras in the pylons also give officials a close-up view of these plays.
How A Player Can Come Up Short
Getting Downed
If a runner is ruled down before the ball reaches the plane, it is not a touchdown. The ball is spotted where he was down.
Losing The Ball
The player must have possession when the ball breaks the plane. If he fumbles before that and the ball goes out through the end zone, it is a touchback and the defense gets the ball. Touchbacks can also happen on defense, as our guide to interceptions in the end zone explains.