30 Must-Know American Football Terms, Phrases and Slang

65 football terms explained, from audible, blitz and red zone to pick six, Hail Mary and the chain gang, plus the slang and sayings fans use.

Football terms come from three places at once: the playbook, the rule book and the broadcast booth. What follows is American football terminology the way it is actually spoken, including the football slang that never made it into a rule book. The words related to American football cover more than plays, so the list also takes in the field, the officials and the penalties. Words associated with American football that you only half recognize from a Sunday broadcast are collected again in the American football glossary further down, where every entry gets a one-line answer.

Must-Know American Football Terms, Phrases and Slang:

American Football Glossary: Every Term A to Z

Term	What It Means
Audible	The quarterback changes the called play at the line of scrimmage after reading the defense.
Blitz	Extra defenders rush the quarterback instead of dropping back into coverage.
Bootleg	The quarterback fakes a handoff, hides the ball on his hip and runs toward the edge.
Chain gang	The sideline crew that carries and sets the ten-yard chains used to measure a first down.
Clock management	Using timeouts, the sidelines and the choice of plays to save or burn time at the end of a half.
Cornerback	A defensive back who covers wide receivers on the outside.
Down	One of the four chances a team has to gain ten yards. Gain them and the count starts over.
End zone	The ten-yard scoring area at each end of the field.
Extra point	The one-point kick attempted from short range after a touchdown.
Fair catch	A signal by a returner, waving one hand above the head, that he will catch a kick without running it back and must not be hit.
False start	An offensive player moving before the snap after getting set; a five-yard penalty that kills the play.
Field goal	A kick through the opponent’s uprights, worth three points.
First down	A fresh set of four downs, earned by advancing the ball ten yards.
Flag	The yellow cloth an official throws to mark a penalty.
Fullback	A back who lines up in front of the running back and blocks, with the occasional short carry.
Fumble	The ball carrier loses the ball before being down. Either team can recover it.
Garbage time	The late part of a lopsided game, when the result is decided and the stats no longer mean much.
Gridiron	The field itself, named for the pattern its yard lines make.
Hail Mary	A long, desperate pass thrown toward the end zone as the clock runs out.
Handoff	The quarterback gives the ball to a back by hand instead of throwing it.
Holding	Illegally grabbing or restraining an opponent; 10 yards against the offense, 5 yards and an automatic first down against the defense.
Hot route	A shortened route a receiver switches to when the quarterback reads a blitz.
Huddle	The quick gathering of players between plays where the next play is called.
Interception	A defender catches a pass meant for the offense and his team takes over.
Kickoff	The kick that opens each half and restarts play after a touchdown or field goal.
Line of scrimmage	The line across the field where the ball sits before the snap. Neither side may cross it early.
Linebacker	A defender behind the line who tackles runners, covers receivers and sometimes rushes the passer.
Man coverage	A defense in which each defender follows one specific receiver.
Nickel defense	Five defensive backs on the field instead of the usual four, used against the pass.
Nose tackle	The lineman lined up over the center in a 3-4 front, there to tie up blockers.
Offside	A five-yard penalty for having any part of the body past the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Onside kick	A short kickoff the kicking team tries to recover after it travels the required ten yards.
Option	A play where the quarterback decides after the snap whether to keep, hand off or pitch the ball.
Pass interference	Illegal contact with a receiver or defender while a forward pass is in the air.
Pick six	An interception returned all the way for a touchdown.
Pigskin	An old nickname for the football, kept alive by commentators long after leather took over.
Play action	A fake handoff meant to pull the linebackers forward before the quarterback throws.
Pocket	The protected space behind the offensive line where the quarterback stands to throw.
Punt	A kick that hands the ball to the other team as far downfield as possible, usually on fourth down.
Quarterback	The offensive leader who takes the snap and either hands off, runs or throws the ball.
Quarterback sneak	The quarterback takes the snap and drives straight ahead for a yard or two.
Red zone	The last twenty yards of field before the goal line, where drives are won or wasted.
Running back	The offensive player who lines up behind the quarterback and mainly carries the ball.
Rushing	Advancing the ball by running with it rather than passing.
Sack	A tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, costing the offense yards.
Safety	Two points for the defense when the ball carrier is downed in his own end zone. Also the name of a deep defensive back.
Scramble	A quarterback running around or out of the pocket when the pass protection breaks down.
Screen pass	A short pass to a back or receiver with blockers already out in front, thrown after the rush is let through on purpose.
Secondary	The defensive backs as a group, meaning the cornerbacks and the safeties.
Shotgun	A formation with the quarterback standing several yards behind the center rather than under him.
Snap	The center’s pass back between his legs that starts every play.
Special teams	The units on the field for kickoffs, punts, field goals and returns.
Spill	A defensive technique that forces the ball carrier away from the middle and out toward the sideline.
Tackle	Bringing the ball carrier to the ground to end the play. Also the name of a position on both lines.
Tight end	A hybrid who lines up next to the tackle and both blocks and catches passes.
Touchback	A kickoff, punt or turnover that ends in or beyond the end zone without a return; the ball is placed at a set yard line.
Touchdown	Six points, scored by carrying or catching the ball in the opponent’s end zone.
Turnover	Any loss of possession without a kick, by interception or by lost fumble.
Two-minute drill	The hurried offense a team runs at the end of a half to score before time expires.
Two-point conversion	Instead of kicking after a touchdown, the offense runs one play from the two-yard line for two points.
Unsportsmanlike conduct	A fifteen-yard penalty for taunting or other behavior outside fair play.
Wide receiver	A player split wide whose main job is to catch passes.
Wildcat	A formation in which the snap goes straight to a back rather than to the quarterback.
Yardage	Ground gained or lost. The currency the entire game is measured in.
Zone defense	Defenders guard areas of the field instead of tracking individual receivers.

What Is It Called When…? American Football Terms by Situation

Know what happened but not the word for it? Find the situation on the left and the american football term on the right.

When…	It Is Called
The defense tackles the ball carrier in his own end zone	Safety
A defender catches a pass meant for a receiver	Interception
An interception is run back for a touchdown	Pick six
The quarterback is tackled before he can throw	Sack
The quarterback changes the play at the line	Audible
The defense sends extra rushers	Blitz
A long desperate pass is thrown at the end of a half	Hail Mary
A ball carrier drops the ball	Fumble
The ball changes possession through a mistake	Turnover
A returner waves to catch a kick without running	Fair catch
The kicking team tries to get the kickoff back	Onside kick
The offense tries for two points after a touchdown	Two-point conversion
An offensive player moves before the snap	False start
A defender is over the line when the ball is snapped	Offside
The quarterback fakes a handoff and then throws	Play action
The quarterback pushes forward right after the snap for a yard	Quarterback sneak
The ball is snapped to a running back instead of the quarterback	Wildcat
The officials measure for a first down	Chain gang
A kick goes into the end zone and nobody returns it	Touchback

#1 Audible

A play call changed at the line of scrimmage after the quarterback has read the defense. He shouts a code word or signal to the other ten players, so the play from the huddle is replaced seconds before the snap. Peyton Manning’s “Omaha” made the habit famous.

In a sentence: “He saw the safety creep down and checked to a run with an audible.”

#2 Blitz

A defensive call that sends extra rushers, usually linebackers or defensive backs, after the quarterback on top of the four or so linemen. It can produce a sack or a rushed throw, but every extra rusher leaves one less player in coverage. The word is borrowed from the German Blitzkrieg.

In a sentence: “They sent a zero blitz on third down and nobody picked up the corner.”

#3 Down

One play from snap to whistle, and one of four chances the offense gets to gain ten yards. Gain the ten yards and the count resets to first down. Fail on fourth down and the ball goes to the other team where the play ended, which is why most teams punt or kick a field goal instead.

In a sentence: “It’s third and long, so expect a pass.”

#4 End Zone

The ten-yard area at each end of the field between the goal line and the end line. A player carrying the ball across the goal line, or catching it inside the end zone with both feet down in the NFL, scores a touchdown. The goalposts stand at the back of it.

In a sentence: “He dragged both feet in the back of the end zone before going out.”

#5 Field Goal

A kick through the uprights and over the crossbar from scrimmage, worth three points. The kick is taken about seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, so a field goal from the 30-yard line is a 47-yard attempt once the ten yards of end zone are added.

In a sentence: “Coach sent the kicking unit out for a 52-yard field goal to win it.”

#6 Gridiron

Another name for the football field, and by extension for the sport itself. It comes from the yard lines across the field, which made early fields look like a grill. In Australia and Britain, “gridiron” is the usual word for American football.

In a sentence: “Saturdays in the fall belong to the college gridiron.”

#7 Hail Mary

A long, high pass thrown into the end zone at the end of a half, with several receivers waiting for a tip or a jump ball. The name became popular after Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach said he “closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary” after a winning throw in a 1975 playoff game.

In a sentence: “Four seconds left, so they line up three receivers on the right for the Hail Mary.”

#8 Interception

A pass caught by a defender instead of the intended receiver, which turns the ball over to the defense on the spot. The defender may run it back as far as he can. In the stat line it counts against the quarterback.

In a sentence: “He stared down his receiver and the corner jumped the route for an interception.”

#9 Kickoff

The free kick that starts each half and restarts play after every score. In the NFL the ball is kicked from the kicking team’s 35-yard line. A kick into the end zone that is not returned becomes a touchback, which moves the ball to a set spot on the field.

In a sentence: “The kickoff sailed out of the end zone for a touchback.”

#10 Linebacker

A defender lined up a few yards behind the defensive line. Linebackers stop the run, cover backs and tight ends, and rush the passer on blitzes. The middle linebacker often wears the helmet radio and relays the defensive call.

In a sentence: “Their middle linebacker led the team with 14 tackles.”

#11 Nose Tackle

The defensive lineman who lines up directly over the center, “nose to nose” with him, mostly in a 3-4 front. His job is to take on two blockers at once so the linebackers behind him can run free. Nose tackles are usually the heaviest players on the defense.

In a sentence: “The nose tackle ate up the double team and the linebacker made the stop.”

#12 Offside

A defensive foul for being beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. It costs five yards. Because the play usually continues, the offense gets a “free play”: it can take the result of the play or the penalty, whichever is better.

In a sentence: “He jumped offside and the quarterback took a shot downfield on the free play.”

#13 Punt

A kick in which the punter drops the ball and kicks it before it reaches the ground. Teams punt on fourth down when they are too far away for a field goal and do not want to risk giving the ball up close to their own goal. A good punt flips field position by 40 yards or more.

In a sentence: “Fourth and nine from their own 25, they’ll punt.”

#14 Quarterback Sneak

A short-yardage run where the quarterback takes the snap and immediately pushes forward behind the center. It is used when the offense needs a yard or less. Philadelphia turned a version with teammates pushing from behind into a near-certain play, which fans called the “tush push”.

In a sentence: “Fourth and inches, so it’s a quarterback sneak.”

#15 Red Zone

The area between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the goal line. Teams are judged by their red zone touchdown rate, because a drive that stalls there usually ends in a field goal and three points instead of seven.

In a sentence: “They moved the ball well but went one for four in the red zone.”

#16 Sack

Tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw. The offense loses the yardage and the down. The NFL has counted sacks as an official statistic since 1982.

In a sentence: “The edge rusher beat the tackle and got the sack on third down.”

#17 Safety

Two meanings. As a score, a safety happens when the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone, which gives the defense two points and the ball on a free kick. As a position, the safeties are the deepest defensive backs, the last line of defense.

In a sentence: “He was sacked in the end zone, and that’s a safety.”

#18 Tackle

Also two meanings. As an action, bringing the ball carrier to the ground, which ends the play. As a position, the offensive tackles line up on the outside of the offensive line and protect the quarterback, while defensive tackles play inside on the defensive line.

In a sentence: “Their left tackle hasn’t allowed a sack all year.”

#19 Tight End

An offensive player who lines up next to the offensive tackle, at the “end” of the line, close to it rather than split out wide. He blocks like a lineman on runs and goes out as a receiver on passes, which makes him hard to cover.

In a sentence: “The tight end chipped the defensive end and then leaked out for the catch.”

#20 Touchdown

The main score, worth six points: carrying the ball across the goal line or catching it in the end zone. After a touchdown the scoring team gets an extra try, either a kick for one point or a play from close range for two.

In a sentence: “He broke one tackle and went 60 yards for the touchdown.”

#21 Two-point Conversion

The option after a touchdown to run or pass the ball into the end zone instead of kicking the extra point. In the NFL the ball is snapped from the 2-yard line, and success is worth two points. Coaches choose it when they need to catch up or close a specific score gap.

In a sentence: “Down eight, they’ll need the touchdown and the two-point conversion.”

#22 Unsportsmanlike Conduct

A 15-yard penalty for behavior such as taunting, abusive language or excessive celebration. In the NFL a player flagged twice in one game for taunting or abusive language is ejected.

In a sentence: “He spun the ball at the defender and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag.”

#23 Wildcat

A formation in which the ball is snapped directly to a running back or receiver while the quarterback lines up wide or leaves the field. It gives the offense an extra blocker in the run game. The Miami Dolphins made it famous in the NFL in 2008.

In a sentence: “They went to the Wildcat on the goal line and the back ran it in.”

#24 Yardage

Distance gained or lost, counted in yards. It shows up everywhere: rushing yardage, passing yardage, total yardage, and penalty yardage, the yards a team gives away through fouls.

In a sentence: “They won the yardage battle by 150 yards and still lost.”

#25 Zone Defense

Pass coverage in which each defender guards an area of the field instead of following one receiver. Common zones such as Cover 2 and Cover 3 are named after the number of deep defenders. The opposite is man coverage.

In a sentence: “They sat in zone defense and made him throw underneath all day.”

#26 Bootleg

A play where the quarterback fakes a handoff to one side and rolls out the other way with the ball on his hip. He can then throw on the run or keep it. It works best against defenders who chase the fake.

In a sentence: “Play action, bootleg right, and the tight end is wide open in the flat.”

#27 Chain Gang

The officials on the sideline who hold the two poles joined by a ten-yard chain, plus the down marker. They show where the first down line is. When a play is close, the chain is brought onto the field to measure.

In a sentence: “Bring out the chain gang, this one’s going to be close.”

#28 Fullback

A running back who lines up in front of the tailback and mostly blocks for him. Fullbacks also carry in short-yardage situations and catch short passes. The position has become rare in the NFL as teams use more receivers.

In a sentence: “The fullback led through the hole and flattened the linebacker.”

#29 Nickel Defense

A defensive alignment with five defensive backs instead of the standard four. The fifth back, the nickel, comes in for a linebacker to cover an extra receiver. Six defensive backs are called a dime package.

In a sentence: “On third and long they went to the nickel defense.”

#30 Pick Six

An interception returned for a touchdown. “Pick” is slang for interception and “six” for the six points. It is one of the fastest ways a game can swing.

In a sentence: “The corner read the slant and took it back for a pick six.”

American Football Slang Players and Fans Actually Use

Slang	What It Means
Pigskin	The football itself, from the days when balls were made from inflated pig bladders. Today they are leather.
Pick	An interception, as in “he threw two picks”.
Pick six	An interception returned for a touchdown.
Pancake	A block that knocks the defender flat on his back. Offensive line coaches count them.
Coffin corner	The area near the sideline inside the opponent’s 10-yard line where punters aim to pin the other team deep.
Alligator arms	A receiver pulling his arms in instead of reaching for a pass because he expects to be hit.
Garbage time	The end of a blowout, when backups play and stats pile up without changing anything.
Statue of Liberty	A trick play where the quarterback pretends to throw and a teammate takes the ball from his raised hand.
Flea flicker	A trick play where the running back takes a handoff and pitches the ball back to the quarterback, who then throws deep.
Pick play	A pass route where one receiver gets in a defender’s way to free a teammate; legal only within a yard of the line of scrimmage.
Hands team	The players with the surest hands, sent out when the opponent is expected to try an onside kick.
Moving the chains	Picking up first downs one after another.
Monday morning quarterback	Someone who second-guesses decisions after the game, when the result is known.
Tush push	The Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback sneak with teammates shoving from behind.

American Football Expressions and Sayings in Everyday English

Hail Mary: A last, desperate attempt with little chance of success, from the long pass thrown at the end of a game.
Monday morning quarterback: A person who criticizes decisions after the fact. NFL games are played on Sunday, and the second-guessing follows on Monday.
Move the goalposts: To change the rules or the target after someone has started trying to meet it. The image is of a kicker whose target is shifted.
Drop the ball: To make a mistake or fail to follow through on a responsibility, like a fumble or a dropped pass.
Punt: To put off a decision or problem for later, as a team punts on fourth down instead of risking the ball.
Run interference: To deal with problems on someone else’s behalf. In football, blockers run ahead of the ball carrier to clear his path.
End run: A way of getting around an obstacle instead of facing it head on, from a run around the end of the defensive line.
Quarterback (verb): To direct or lead a project, as in “she quarterbacked the merger”.

FAQ

What is it called when the defense tackles an offensive player in their own end zone?

A safety. The defense scores two points and also gets the ball back, because the team that gave up the safety has to free kick from its own 20-yard line.

What is a desperate pass in American football called?

A Hail Mary: a long, high throw into the end zone at the end of a half, with several receivers fighting for the ball.

What is it called when a defensive player catches a pass intended for a receiver?

An interception, often shortened to a pick. If the defender returns it for a touchdown, it is a pick six.

What is a fumble in football?

Losing control of the ball while running with it, before the play is whistled dead. Either team can recover it, and a fumble lost to the defense is a turnover.

What is another name for the American football field?

The gridiron, after the yard lines that cross the field and made early fields look like a grill.

What is another word for the defense on a football team?

Broadcasters often say “the defensive unit”. The defensive backs together are called the secondary, and the linemen up front the front four or front seven, counting the linebackers.

What are some words related to American football?

The scoring words touchdown, field goal, extra point and safety, the positions quarterback, running back, linebacker and cornerback, and the field words end zone, red zone and line of scrimmage. The American football glossary above lists them all.

What are some American football terms for beginners?

Start with down, first down, line of scrimmage, touchdown, field goal and punt, then the main positions quarterback, running back and receiver. With those you can follow the flow of any game.

What are some American football slang terms?

Pigskin for the ball, pick for an interception, pick six for one returned for a score, pancake for a flattening block and garbage time for the end of a blowout. The slang table above has more.

What is a famous American football phrase?

“Hail Mary” is the one that crossed into everyday English, along with “Monday morning quarterback”. Inside the game, “Omaha” became famous as Peyton Manning’s audible call.