Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach coined which football phrase?
| Answer: | “Hail Mary” |
Roger Staubach, legendary Cowboys quarterback, coined the football phrase “Hail Mary.” This iconic term is used to describe a desperate, last-ditch pass attempt by a quarterback, often in the closing moments of a game when the team is trailing and needs a miracle play to win. Staubach first uttered the phrase during a 1975 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. With the Cowboys trailing late in the game, Staubach launched a deep pass to receiver Drew Pearson, who caught the ball for a game-winning touchdown. When asked about the play after the game, Staubach replied that he closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary, and the term stuck.
The term “Hail Mary” quickly caught on in football circles and has since become a common phrase used to describe these high-risk, high-reward pass attempts. The concept behind the term is derived from the Hail Mary prayer in Catholicism, where believers ask the Virgin Mary for intercession in times of great need or desperation. In football, a successful “Hail Mary” pass is often seen as a miraculous, almost divine intervention that can change the outcome of a game in an instant.
Roger Staubach’s innovation of the term “Hail Mary” not only added a colorful and evocative phrase to the football lexicon but also highlighted his penchant for making clutch plays in critical moments. Staubach’s ability to remain cool under pressure and deliver in crucial situations solidified his reputation as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. The legacy of the “Hail Mary” lives on as a reminder of the unpredictable and thrilling nature of football, where even the most improbable plays can become the stuff of legend.