Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass is when a quarterback throws a forward pass in football deep down field. A Hail Mary pass has a very rare chance of being completed. The pass is usually made when the quarterback is in desperation or the time on the clock is running out. The name of the play is a reference to the Hail Mary prayer in Catholicism.
The play became well known by football media after a game on December 28, 1975 when Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach was describing his game-winning pass and said "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary."[1][2] The origins of the term go as far back as the 1930s when it was used by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and other universities of Catholic background.[3]
Hail Mary Pass Media
Roger Staubach, the thrower of the game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson during an NFL playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings on December 28, 1975
The Catholic-inspired name of the play derives from its early use at the University of Notre Dame and its frequent fusion of religious and football imagery (such as in Touchdown Jesus, pictured above)
References
- ↑ "How Roger Staubach and Drew Pearson Made the 'Hail Mary' Pass Famous". History Channel. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ↑ "Here's the history of the NFL's 'Hail Mary' pass on its 41st anniversary". ABC7 New York. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ↑ "How the Hail Mary Pass Got That Name". National Catholic Register. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
