Long pass play in American football usually made in desperation
A Hail Mary pass is a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with an exceptionally small chance of achieving a completion. Due to the difficulty of a completion with this pass, it makes reference to the Catholic "Hail Mary" prayer for strength and help.[1]
The expression goes back at least to the 1930s, when it was used publicly by Elmer Layden and Jim Crowley, two former members of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's Four Horsemen. Originally meaning any sort of desperation play, a Hail Mary pass gradually came to denote a long, low-probability pass, typically of the "alley-oop" variety, attempted at the end of a half when a team is too far from the end zone to execute a more conventional play, implying that it would take a miracle for the play to succeed. For more than 40 years, use of the term was largely confined to Notre Dame and other Catholic universities.[1]
The term became widespread after an NFL playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings on December 28, 1975 (see Cowboys–Vikings rivalry), when Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach said about his game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson, "I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary."[2]
^ abAshwill, Gary (October 29, 2010). "Hail Mary". Agate Type. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
^"Chat Transcript With Roger Staubach". profootballhof.com. Pro Football Hall of Fame. December 8, 2000. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
A HailMarypass is a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with an exceptionally small chance of achieving a completion...
of famous HailMary plays from collegiate and professional football in the United States. 1922 — On October 28, 1922, the term "HailMary play" was used...
The HailMary (Latin: Ave Maria) or Angelical salutation is a traditional Catholic prayer addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer is based on...
tightly contested game, Seattle rookie quarterback Russell Wilson threw a HailMarypass into the end zone intended for wide receiver Golden Tate. Both Tate...
regulation play, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray threw a 43-yard HailMarypass into the end zone that wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught over three...
memorable moments in sports. The game is remembered for its last-second HailMarypass from quarterback Doug Flutie to wide receiver Gerard Phelan to give...
for the Browns, including two "HailMary" passes. In 1999 against the New Orleans Saints, his last-second touchdown pass to Kevin Johnson gave the Browns...
leading 23–21, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a 61-yard (56 m) HailMarypass into the end-zone that was caught by tight end Richard Rodgers II for...
allows the field goal unit to come onto the field, or attempt a final "HailMarypass". However, if a team is winning, a quarterback can keep the clock running...
manifestation of the Satanic panic, referred to it as a "Hail Satan Pass", similar to the HailMarypass in football, a desperate and unlikely attempt.[citation...
November 24, 2023. "Jevon Holland pick-six: Dolphins DB returns Jets' HailMarypass 99 yards for touchdown". The Sporting News. November 24, 2023. Retrieved...
from the snap from center), unless the ball is fumbled by a ball carrier, a pass is deflected, or a player who is normally an offensive lineman takes a different...
1994. Stewart achieved recognition for the "Miracle at Michigan", a HailMarypass he completed to defeat Michigan in 1994. He was selected by the Steelers...
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29 yards on six carries. Aaron Bailey dropped Harbaugh's last-second HailMarypass in the endzone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won 20–16 and went on to...
Jeff Albertson to be his real name in the episode "Homer and Ned's HailMaryPass") is a nerdy, snobby and quarrelsome man. He is best known for his eloquence...
play of the game, Flutie scrambled away from the defense and threw a "HailMarypass" that was caught in the end zone by Gerard Phelan, giving BC a 47–45...
reduced the Browns' lead to one point. Quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a HailMarypass that Ahmad Rashad caught at the 2-yard line before backing into the...
Nick Marshall threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Ricardo Louis known as "The Prayer at Jordan–Hare," a HailMarypass that propelled Auburn past Georgia in...
scored his first collegiate touchdown two weeks later when he caught a HailMarypass from quarterback Kenny Hill on the last play of the first half in a...