Glossary of American football terms explained

The following terms are used in American football, both conventional and indoor. Some of these terms are also in use in Canadian football; for a list of terms unique to that code, see Glossary of Canadian football.

0–9

See main article: 3–3–5 defense.

See main article: 3–4 defense.

See main article: 4–3 defense.

See main article: 46 defense.

See main article: 5–2 defense.

See main article: 5–3 defense.

See main article: 6–2 defense.

See main article: 7–1–2–1 defense.

See main article: 7–2–2 defense.

A

See main article: A-11 offense.

See main article: Air Coryell.

See main article: Air raid offense.

See main article: all-purpose yardage.

B

See main article: Black Monday.

See main article: Blitz (American football).

See main article: Bootleg play.

C

See main article: Carry (gridiron football).

See main article: Checkdown.

See main article: Chop block (gridiron football).

See main article: Clock management.

See main article: Coffin corner (American football).

See main article: Cornerback.

See main article: Cut blocking.

D

See main article: Dead zone (gridiron football).

See main article: defensive back.

See main article: Defensive end.

See main article: defensive tackle.

See main article: Defensive team.

See main article: Intentional grounding.

See main article: Dime back.

See main article: Draw play.

See main article: Drop kick.

E

See main article: Edge rusher.

See main article: eligible receiver.

See main article: Encroachment (gridiron football).

See main article: End-around.

See main article: End zone.

See main article: Extra point.

F

See main article: Face mask (gridiron football).

See main article: False start.

See main article: Fair catch.

See main article: Fair catch kick.

See main article: Fantasy football (American).

See main article: NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.

See main article: NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

See main article: Field goal.

See main article: Flea flicker (American football).

See main article: Flexbone formation.

See main article: Forward pass.

See main article: Fullback (American football).

See main article: Fumble.

See main article: Fumblerooski.

G

See main article: Game manager.

See main article: Goal line (American football).

See main article: Guard (American football).

See main article: Gunner (American football).

H

See main article: Hail Mary pass.

See main article: Halfback (American football).

See main article: Halfback option play.

See main article: Hand-off.

See main article: Hard count (gridiron football).

See main article: H-back.

See main article: Holder (American football).

See main article: Holding (American football).

See main article: Hook and lateral.

See main article: Horse-collar tackle.

See main article: Hurry-up offense.

See main article: Hard count (gridiron football).

I

See main article: I formation.

See main article: icing the kicker.

See main article: Incomplete pass.

See main article: Interception.

J

See main article: Juke (football move).

K

A punt, place kick, or drop kick

See main article: placekicker.

See main article: Kickoff (gridiron football).

See main article: Kick returner.

See main article: Quarterback kneel.

L

See main article: Lateral pass.

See main article: Line of scrimmage.

See main article: Linebacker.

See main article: Lineman (football).

See main article: Long snapper.

M

See main article: Man-to-man defense.

See main article: Motion (gridiron football).

See main article: Man-to-man defense.

See main article: Motion (gridiron football).

See main article: Muffed punt.

N

See main article: Neutral zone (American football).

See main article: NFL Europa.

See main article: Nickel back.

See main article: No-huddle offense.

O

See main article: Offensive team.

See main article: Offside (American football).

See main article: Onside kick.

See main article: Option offense.

P

See main article: Conversion (gridiron football).

See main article: Forward pass.

See main article: Pass interference.

See main article: Passer rating.

See main article: Personnel grouping (gridiron football).

See main article: Interception.

See main article: Pistol offense.

See main article: Place kick.

See main article: Play action pass.

See main article: Play clock.

See main article: Passing pocket.

See main article: Pop Warner Little Scholars.

See main article: prevent defense.

See main article: Pro set.

See main article: Punt (gridiron football).

See main article: Punter (football position).

Q

See main article: Quarterback.

See main article: quarterback sneak.

See main article: Quick kick.

R

See main article: Reception (gridiron football).

See main article: Red zone (gridiron football).

See main article: Redshirt (college sports).

See main article: Return yards.

See main article: Reverse (American football).

See main article: Run and shoot.

See main article: Run-pass option.

See main article: Running back.

See main article: Running out the clock.

See main article: Rush (American football).

S

See main article: Quarterback sack.

See main article: Safety (gridiron football position).

See main article: Quarterback scramble.

See main article: Screen pass.

See main article: Defensive back.

See main article: Shift (gridiron football).

See main article: Shotgun formation.

See main article: Single-wing formation.

See main article: Smashmouth offense.

See main article: Snap (football).

See main article: Quarterback sneak.

See main article: Spike (gridiron football).

See main article: Spiral (football).

See main article: Split-T.

See main article: Spread offense.

See main article: Sprint football.

See main article: Squib kick.

See main article: Stunt (gridiron football).

See main article: Sweep (American football).

T

See main article: T formation.

See main article: Tackle (football move).

See main article: Tackle-eligible play.

See main article: Halfback (American football).

See main article: Three-point stance.

See main article: Tight end.

See main article: Total offense.

See main article: Touchback.

See main article: Touchdown.

See main article: Trap run.

See main article: Trick play.

See main article: Trips formation.

See main article: Conversion (gridiron football).

See main article: Turnover on downs.

See main article: Turnover (gridiron football).

See main article: Two-level defense.

See main article: Two-minute warning.

See main article: Two-point conversion.

U

See main article: Upback.

See main article: Utility player.

V

See main article: Veer.

W

See main article: Walk-on (sports).

See main article: West Coast offense.

See main article: Wide receiver.

See main article: Wildcat offense.

See main article: Wingback (American football).

See main article: Wishbone formation.

Y

See main article: Yards after catch.

See main article: All-purpose yardage.

See main article: Yards from scrimmage.

Z

See main article: Zone defense in American football.

See main article: Zone blitz.

See also

Sources