General
sack
What does sack mean?
Tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage while he still holds the ball on a pass play.
"The edge rusher beat the tackle for his third sack of the game."
Origin
American football; popularized by Deacon Jones, who likened it to sacking (devastating) a city.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'sack' in football?
A sack is when a defender tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage while he's still holding the ball on a pass play.
Who invented the term 'sack' in football?
It was popularized by Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones, who compared tackling a quarterback to sacking, or devastating, a city.
How is a sack different from a regular tackle?
A sack specifically means bringing down the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw, whereas a tackle can happen to any ball carrier anywhere on the field.
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