Hail Mary pass

In American football, a Hail Mary pass is a forward pass made in desperation, with only a very small chance of success. The typical Hail Mary is a very long forward pass thrown at or near the end of a game where there is no realistic possibility for any other play to work. The phrase derives from the name of a prominent Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary and comes from a translation of the opening words of the prayer in Latin: Ave, Maria. The point is that the success of such a pass is so unlikely that it would need divine intervention to work.

See also

• American football/Glossary