General
hail mary
What does hail mary mean?
A very long, low-percentage pass thrown toward a cluster of receivers near the end zone as time runs out, in hope of a touchdown.
"Down by four with three seconds left, they had one shot at a hail mary."
Origin
Named after the Catholic prayer; popularized in 1975 when Roger Staubach threw a famous game-winner.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'Hail Mary' in football?
It's a very long, low-percentage pass thrown toward the end zone as time expires, in a desperate bid to score a touchdown.
Where does the term 'Hail Mary' come from?
It's named after the Catholic prayer and was popularized in 1975 after Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a famous last-second game-winner and credited a Hail Mary prayer.
Does 'Hail Mary' get used outside football?
Yes, it's used generally for any last-ditch, long-shot effort made in desperation when other options have run out.
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