I forget what Superbowl it was, maybe the one Joe Flacco won, but in the end the leading team was kicking off with less then a minute to go. One of the kicking team player who was on the sideline said to his teammates "If the guy breaks it is about to score a touchdown, lets all just run out and tackle him." Meaning the sideline would stop the guy from breaking the plane. This is poor sportsmanship, but if it actually happened, what would the rule be? I know probably multiple flags for unsportsmanlike, too many men on the field, and ejections; but would the other team be awarded the actual touchdown?

I don't know the rule but I remember that in the 50's or so Cotton Bowl, a player from Alabama came off the bench to tackle a Rice Runner that was heading for a TD. Officials awarded the Rice player the TD.

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You can't award someone a touchdown they don't score...

NFL Rule Book's Rule 12, Section 3, Article 3:

 

"Palpably Unfair Act. A player or substitute shall not interfere with play by any act which is palpably unfair. Penalty: For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting his crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee may award a score."

You can't award someone a touchdown they don't score...

 

Teams would do it all the time if there wasn't the threat of a score being awarded.

Coach Roy Walton did this once while coaching for Lafayette in a game against Danville. He claimed he tripped over his headset cord, lol.

 

He lost his job for it, and later went on to have a tremendous career at Tates Creek. I talked to him on 2 or 3 occasions, and he was a character.

If you remember, The Steelers Head Coach Tomlin got a penalty for it

He was fine $100,000

At all levels, the officials have the ability to award a score...in fact, it is that way in most sports. In baseball, if the umpires feel that an "unfair act" caused a player not to score a run...then they can award that team the score. The high school football rule book also allows the officials to end the game and give a team a "forfeit" if they are "making a mockery of the game of football."

Walton was a great one. Played for him. But the way he was, would never fly now a days. But I would not have wanted to play for anyone else!!!