In American football, the technical terms often fly around your ears faster than the players at kick-off. “Interception”, “encroachment” or “audible” – what is part of everyday life for professionals still makes you break out in a sweat? Don’t worry: our glossary is your personal playbook so that you don’t just sit in front of the TV on Sunday evening, but really understand what’s happening on the pitch.
Whether you’re watching the Super Bowl just for the halftime show or want to analyze every play in detail – we’ll explain the most important terms from A to Z. You’ll be an insider in no time at all.
Quarterback, fullback, safety… Is your head spinning with all those position names? 👀 Don’t worry! If you want to know more about who actually stands where, take a look at our guide to the football positions here.
When a player safely catches and controls the ball. A catch within the field of play is the prerequisite for a complete pass.
The crew on the sidelines (also known as the “chain gang”), who use a 10-yard chain to mark how far it is until the next first down. In the case of close decisions, they come onto the pitch to take measurements.
If a head coach disputes a referee’s decision, he throws his red flag. The scene is then reviewed by video evidence. If he is right, he can keep his challenge.
The quarterback’s “safety option”. If a deep pass is not possible, he throws a short pass to a nearby teammate (usually a running back) to save at least a few yards.
A dangerous and illegal block into the opponent’s back below the belt. Strictly punished with a 15-yard penalty.
The art of using playing time strategically. Teams stop the clock (timeouts, spike, out of bounds) or deliberately let it run out to give the opponent no time to counterattack.
The coin toss before the kick-off. The winner decides whether to attack (offense) or defend (defense) first.
A successful forward pass that is caught by a teammate without the ball touching the ground. Also known as a “complete pass”.
Usually known as a “two-point conversion”: The attempt to score two extra points after a touchdown instead of a kick by making another move into the end zone.
The “shadows” of the wide receivers. These defenders stand on the outside of the line and have the task of preventing or intercepting passes to the receivers.
The crossbar of the field goal frame. The ball must always fly over the crossbar and between the vertical poles during a kick.
The fourth down is the moment of decision: Since you lose the ball to the opponent if you fail on the spot, this is usually where you kick (punt) to drive the opponent far back. Only those who are brave “go for it”!
Refers to the protective grille on the helmet. If a player reaches into the grille and pulls on it, this is a foul (15-yard penalty). Brief contact is permitted – grabbing is prohibited.
The returner waves his arm over his head before making the catch. He is signaling: I catch the ball, but do not run. He may then not be tackled. However, if he drops the ball (“muff”), it is free for everyone.
A false start by the offense: If a player moves before the snap and fakes the start of the play. The penalty is 5 yards.
The kick through the goalposts scores 3 points. The ball is usually fixed on the ground by the “holder” for the kicker.
The referees throw small yellow flags onto the field to indicate a foul. Coaches, on the other hand, throw red flags for a challenge.
A tool for teams to retain a top player with an expiring contract for another year if they cannot agree on a new contract.
A player without a contract. He is “free” on the market and can negotiate with any team.
Every offense’s nightmare: the ball carrier loses control of the ball before his knee or elbow touches the ground. The ball is then “free” and can be recovered by either team (fumble recovery).
The official stadium clock. It shows how much time is left to play in each quarter. Not to be confused with the play clock, which sets the time limit for each individual move.
The gap between two players in the offensive line. The defense tries to break through these gaps while the offense blocks them for their running backs.
A purely visual aid for TV viewers. It marks the spot that the offense must reach in order to achieve a new first down. This line cannot be seen in the stadium itself.
The front boundary of the end zone. If the ball crosses this line in the hands of a player (or even just touches it briefly), this counts as a touchdown.
The goalposts at the end of each end zone. Consists of the crossbar and the two uprights through which the ball must pass when kicked.
The nickname for the football pitch. It is derived from the grid-like pattern formed by the lines on the pitch.
The sprinters of the special teams. Their job is to chase forward as quickly as possible after a punt in order to stop the opposing returner immediately.
Where does the name come from? In 1975, Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw the decisive touchdown against the Vikings shortly before the end of the game. After the game, he said: “I closed my eyes and prayed a Hail Mary.” The play has borne this name ever since.
Why is there an Illegal Formation? So that the offense can’t cheat by pulling all the players far back to confuse the defense. There must be order!
The quarterback may only throw the ball away without penalty (“throw away”) if he is outside the pocket (the protective area of the O-line) and the ball reaches at least the line of scrimmage.
Did you know? You can usually tell the role by the number: quarterbacks often wear 1-19, while the heavy guys on the offensive line usually have numbers between 50 and 79. So you know immediately who is who!
If the ball is kicked through the opponent’s end zone or kneel down by the returner, this is called a touchback. The offense then automatically starts at its own 30-yard line (in the NFL).
The kneel down is the sportiest way to say: “The game is over, we’ve won.” It prevents unnecessary injuries and time stops just before the final whistle.
The middle linebacker is often referred to as the “quarterback of the defense”. He reads the opponent’s formation and gives his teammates tactical instructions before the snap.
A player in the offense who is allowed to move parallel to the line of scrimmage before the snap. This serves to confuse the opposing defense or to read their tactics ahead of time.
The classic man-to-man defense: Each defender is assigned a fixed opponent whom he pursues across the field to prevent him from catching the ball.
Maximum protection for the quarterback: In addition to the O-line, running backs or tight ends are left behind to block. This gives the QB more time, but fewer pass receivers.
The term for the middle linebacker. He is often the leader of the defense and is loudly identified by the quarterback before the snap to clarify blocking responsibilities.
A mistake when catching the ball, usually on a punt or kickoff. The player touches the ball while attempting to catch it, but immediately loses control. A “muff” clears the ball for both teams.
The neutral zone is the area between offense and defense before the snap, the width of which corresponds to the length of the football (1 yard). No player may enter this zone before the play – the only exception is the center (snapper), who may touch the ball.
A foul by the defense: A defender enters the neutral zone before the snap and provokes a reaction (a false start) by the offense. This is penalized with a 5-yard penalty and the play is immediately interrupted.
A defensive formation in which five instead of the usual four defensive backs are on the field. This formation is usually chosen to better defend against an opponent’s passing attack.
A tactic in which the offense forgoes the huddle and plays one play after the other. This serves to put the defense under time pressure, prevent them from making substitutions or simply take them by surprise.
Since 2024, an onside kick in the NFL may only be performed in the 4th quarter and must be announced in advance. Surprise kicks no longer exist!
Why pick six? “Pick” colloquially stands for the interception (plucking the ball out of the air) and “six” for the six points of the touchdown.
A football game is divided into four quarters, each with a net playing time of 15 minutes.
The leader of the offense. He distributes the balls by pass or hand-off and calls the plays. He is in direct contact with the coaches via radio.
A statistical formula that makes the passing performance (success rate, touchdowns, interceptions) of a quarterback comparable in a single number.
When the defense brings the quarterback down behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw the ball. This leads to a considerable loss of space.
A short running play in which the quarterback takes the ball directly after the snap and pushes forward behind his O-line. Ideal for very short distances to the first down.
Probably the most famous sneak of modern times is the “Tush Push”: the quarterback is also pushed forward from behind by his teammates in order to force the necessary centimetres.
The quarterback starts the play particularly quickly to give the defense no time for substitutions or tactical adjustments.
The yards a pass receiver runs after catching the ball until the end of the play.
A running play in which the quarterback “reads” the reaction of a defender and only decides at the last moment whether to hand the ball to the running back or run himself.
The area between the opponent’s 20-yard line and the end zone. Statistically important, as the chance of scoring points is highest here.
The main round of the NFL. Each team plays 17 games to qualify for the playoffs.
The player who catches punts or kick-offs and tries to return the ball as far as possible.
A trick play: The running back runs in one direction and hands the ball to an oncoming receiver to take the defense by surprise.
A foul: An unfair or delayed tackle on the quarterback or kicker after the ball is already gone. Penalty: 15 yards and automatic first down.
An ultra-modern play in which the quarterback decides whether to hand the ball off (run) or immediately throw a pass, depending on the behavior of the defense.
The difference: With the read option, the QB chooses between two running routes. With the RPO, he decides between run and pass. This is almost impossible for the defense to defend!
The primary ball carrier of the offense. His job is to find gaps in the defense and gain space.
Never underestimate the special teams! They often decide the field position and can single-handedly turn a game around with blocked punts or long returns.
The spike is technically considered an incomplete pass. Therefore, the clock stops, just like with a missed pass in the direction of a receiver.
Two “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” penalties against the same player result in automatic ejection from the game in the NFL.
Term for a very simple, ordinary game scheme without any tactical tricks. Teams usually use “vanilla” tactics in the preseason to keep their true moves secret from the competition.
The formation at the end of the game when the leading team just wants to run out the clock in a controlled manner. The quarterback simply kneels down (see kneel-down).
The official trophy for the winner of the Super Bowl. Named after the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, who won the first two Super Bowls in history.
The trophy is handmade from sterling silver by Tiffany & Co. every year. Unlike challenge cups, the winning team gets to keep this $25,000 piece of jewelry.
An internal NFL system that allows teams to sign players who have been released by other teams.
The “weak” side of the formation: The side on which there is no tight end or fewer players in the offense.
A tactical philosophy based on short, precise passes and running routes. The aim is to gain space through timing and “yards after the catch” (YAC).
The main passing stations for the passing game. They usually position themselves far out on the sidelines to extend the width of the pitch.
Additional places for the playoffs: These go to the best teams in a conference that were unable to win their own division.
The Wild Card Weekend opens the playoffs. As it’s “all or nothing” here, these games are often among the most exciting of the entire season.
This term is used twice in football:
1. yards after catch: The additional distance a receiver travels after the catch.
2. yards after contact: The yards a ball carrier gains after being touched or hit by the first defender.
The unit of measurement in football (1 yard ≈ 0.91 meters). A pitch is 100 yards long; all penalties and space gains are measured in yards.
The total amount of yards a player has gained by running and passing plays from the line of scrimmage. Returns (e.g. after kicks) are not counted here.
While yards after catch show the speed of a player, yards after contact are the measure of the pure power of a running back.
In playbooks, the receivers are often simply called X, Y and Z. The X receiver is usually the physically strongest player, as he is immediately pressured by the defender at the line (press coverage).
The advantage of the zone defense? The defenders usually have the quarterback in sight and can react faster to passes or make interceptions.
Have fun watching – and remember: every yard counts!
To understand a game fundamentally, you should focus on these four terms:
