What is a Hail Mary in Football?

Last updated on November 3rd, 2023 at 07:37 am

A Hail Mary pass is a long-range forward pass towards the end zone. While it’s not an overly complicated play, it can be vitally important to the result of a game. Often, the play results in a jump ball, with a group of receivers and defensive backs leaping to try and catch the pass. If a wide receiver catches the ball in the end zone, it results in a touchdown.

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How Many Points is a Hail Mary?

In most cases, a successful Hail Mary pass results in a touchdown, resulting in six points of offense. However, there are some specific circumstances when a team may use Hail Mary pass as a tactical move. A team may opt to use a desperation pass in the first half of a game to try and get in field goal range. Using a Hail Mary pass in this way early on can help make sure that a team doesn’t return from half-time down too many points.

Why Would a Quarterback Throw a Hail Mary Pass?

Quarterbacks usually throw this pass late in the fourth quarter of a close game to win the game or push it into overtime. The quarterback usually throws the ball poorly, as he’s using all his strength to get it as deep as possible. This desperation pass is often one of the last plays of the game, so it’s usually a fantastic finish.

Famous Hail Mary Passes

While they are rare, there have been some notable successful Hail Mary passes in football history. These past throws make the legend of this pass so alluring. One of the most well-known Hail Mary passes in the NFL happened in 1975, when Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Drew Pearson to win the NFC Divisional Championship against the Minnesota Vikings.

In 1984, Doug Flutie threw an equally well-known Hail Mary pass while playing for Boston College. He threw a 52-yard pass to Gerald Phelan in the game’s final seconds against the University of Miami Hurricanes. This single pass is so popular, Boston College immortalized it with a statue of Flutie in 2008.

During the 2015-2016 NFL season, Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers threw two notable Hail Mary passes. In December, while down 20-23 against the Detroit Lions, Rodgers threw a 61-yard pass from the Packers’ 35-yard line. Tight end Richard Rodgers caught the pass in the end zone to score the game-winning touchdown. The game became known as the “Miracle on Motown.”

Later that season, during the NFC Championship against the Arizona Cardinals, Rodgers completed another 60-yard pass to Jeff Janis, which tied the game at 20 points, pushing it to overtime. While the Packers lost the playoff game, there was no denying Rodger’s ability to make magic during the final play.

How Defenses React to Hail Mary Plays

Hail Mary plays often result in jump balls in the end zone where defensive backs outnumber receivers. When the ball arrives, all players jump to try and be the first to catch it. If receivers are outnumbered, they’ll often try to tip or punch the ball, so it arcs higher in the air, giving them more time to catch it.

Meanwhile, defensive backs know to spike the ball out of the air during a Hail Mary pass. Some coaches will tell fewer defenders to respond to a Hail Mary on the goal line to prevent crowding around the ball. The faster the defense can knock the play dead, the quicker they can guarantee their victory.

Conclusion: What is a Hail Mary Pass in Football?

With the game on the line, a Hail Mary pass is a long throw to the end zone resulting in a jump ball or alley-oop. It’s often one of the last plays of the game in a bid to try and either win or push it to overtime. A successful Hail Mary play has the opportunity to go down in history as one of the best passes of a quarterback’s career, which is why they have such a rich history behind them.