Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

What Is a Hail Mary in Football? All About the Fabled Hail Mary in NFL and Players Who Have Thrown One!

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

NFL’s Week 6 Monday Night Football is here and we are here to talk about the famous or sometimes infamous play called a Hail Mary. So what is a Hail Mary and when is it particularly used in football? Let’s find out.

Hail Mary in Football – Why is It Called a Hail Mary?

A Hail Mary in football is a desperate, long-distance pass thrown by the quarterback, typically in the final seconds of a game, aiming for a touchdown to overcome a deficit. It is used when time is nearly out and the offense is far from the end zone, relying on a little bit of skill, chaos, and lots and lots of luck.

The term “Hail Mary” comes from Catholic prayer, popularized after a 1975 Cowboys playoff game where Roger Staubach described his game-winning pass as a “Hail Mary.”

The phrase captures the miraculous hope of such plays, where receivers and defenders battle for a low-odds, game-changing catch.

As long as @AaronRodgers12 is at QB…

NEVER count out the @packers.

(Dec. 3, 2015) #GBvsDET pic.twitter.com/70uzrC1GBz
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) October 6, 2018

Has a Hail Mary Ever Worked in Football?

The simple answer to this is yes, a “Hail Mary” has worked in football, though it is a low-probability play that has become successful over time, with very few catches ever made in the NFL. While teams that are trailing and are just a couple of points away have tried, it barely works. But if it does, it will always be a memorable play.

List of Some Players Who Have Thrown a Hail Mary

Here is a list of most notable Hail Marys in NFL History.

1975 NFC Divisional: Cowboys 17, Vikings 14- Roger Staubach’s deep pass to Drew Pearson for a TD on fourth-and-16 from midfield, sealing the win.

1980 Week 14: Vikings 28, Browns 23- Tommy Kramer’s sideline heave tipped into Ahmad Rashad’s one-handed catch at the goal line.

2010 Week 10: Jaguars 31, Texans 24- David Garrard’s 50-yard bomb deflected by Glover Quin, caught by Mike Thomas for the score.

2012 Week 3: Seahawks 14, Packers 12- Russell Wilson’s scramble and pass to Golden Tate, upheld as TD in controversy. It is also famously know as “Fail Mary.”

The "Fail Mary" happened 12 years ago tonight.

This was total mayhem.pic.twitter.com/BwVqfcfXv2
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 24, 2024

2015 Week 13: Packers 27, Lions 23- Aaron Rodgers’ scramble and deep ball to Richard Rodgers for the winner.

2015 NFC Divisional: Cardinals 26, Packers 20 (Overtime)- Rodgers’ fourth-and-20 bomb to Jeff Janis, followed by another to tie the game.

2016 Wild Card; Packers 38, Giants 13- Rodgers’ desperation toss from 42 yards out, caught by Randall Cobb in the end zone.

2020 Week 7: Cardinals 30, Bills 26- Kyler Murray’s scramble and pass to DeAndre Hopkins for the contested grab.

2024 Week 6: Commanders 18, Bears 15- Jayden Daniels’ pass tipped short, bouncing to Noah Brown for the TD, which was the most recent Hail Mary play.

A;FK;JD;KJF;LAKEJFLKJVAL;KEJL;JF;EFJ;LFAKJ

JAYDEN DANIELS HAIL MARY! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/BsQ0Z84Rko
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024

Hail Mary plays are extremely rare, and with that said 2025 NFL season’s Week 6 Monday Night Football is going to feature a rematch between the Commanders and the Bears, and we wonder if we’ll get a chance to see another Hail Mary play in this game.

Hail Mary

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Eric Divakaran

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I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.