General
taking a knee
What does taking a knee mean?
When the quarterback kneels immediately after the snap to safely burn clock and end the game while protecting a lead.
"With the lead secure, he took a knee to run out the final seconds."
Origin
American football; the QB literally kneels, ending the play without risk.
Frequently asked questions
What does taking a knee mean in football?
It's when the quarterback kneels down right after taking the snap to safely burn clock and end the game while protecting a lead.
Why do quarterbacks take a knee?
Kneeling ends the play with almost no risk of a fumble or turnover, so a team leading late uses it to run the clock out.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
