A running play disguised as a pass, where the quarterback drops back as if to throw, then hands the ball to a running back who delays before taking the handoff. The play is designed to draw pass rushers past the running lanes.
From 'draw' meaning to pull or attract, as the play draws defenders away from their responsibilities. The concept emerged in the 1950s as a counter to increasingly aggressive pass rushes.
Draw plays epitomize football's psychological warfare, using defenders' instincts and aggression against them. The play succeeds because pass rushers naturally pursue the quarterback, creating the very gaps that running backs exploit for big gains.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.