checkdown

noun

check·​down ˈchek-ˌdau̇n 

plural checkdowns

American football

: a short pass play to a running back or tight end that the quarterback chooses after reading the defensive coverage and seeing no play downfield

I just took what the defense gave me, hit my checkdowns, hit short stuff.

—Eli Manning, quoted in Sporting News, 22 Dec. 2008

Running back Warrick Dunn might be the most underrated back in the league. Dunn … is a serious threat as a receiver. He's a dangerous checkdown target …

—Brad Biggs, Chicago Sun-Times, 18 Dec. 2005

Word History

Etymology

from the verb phrase check down (to) "move to the next option (on the list of receivers)"

First Known Use

1981, in the meaning defined above

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