Interception (football)

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"Interception" redirects here. For other uses, see Interception (disambiguation).

An interception or intercept is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, and involves a pass (either by foot or hand) being cut off by an opposition player who usually gains possession for their team.

[edit] American/Canadian Football

In Canadian or American football, an interception is a specialised move that occurs when a quarterback's pass is caught by a player on the opposing team. This leads to an immediate change of possession during the play: the defender who caught the ball immediately assumes the role of the offense and attempts to move the ball as far towards the opposing goal as possible. Following the stoppage of play, if the interceptor retained possession of the ball, their team takes over possession at the spot where the defender was downed.

Interceptions are predominantly made by the secondary or the linebackers, who are usually closest to the quarterback's intended targets: the wide receivers. However, it is not uncommon for a defensive lineman to get the occasional interception from a tipped ball, a near sack, or a screen pass.

[edit] Notable players

Lester Hayes of the Oakland Raiders was one of the NFL's leaders at interceptions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was known for covering his chest, shoulders and forearms with a copious amounts of adhesive ("stickum") to help him hold onto the ball. After the NFL outlawed the use of such foreign substances in 1981, Hayes' success rate at interceptions dropped below average. He continued to use the substance, which he called, "pick juice," by having it applied in smaller amounts to his wrists.

Paul Krause is usually considered to be the best free safety that the NFL ever had. Krause holds the record for most career interceptions, and is tied for third place for most interceptions by an NFL rookie in his first season, with 12. He played his first three years in the NFL from 1964 to 1967 with the Washington Redskins but was quickly traded to the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent most of his career. Krause played until 1979 and appeared in four Super Bowls with the Vikings (though he never won), and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Statistically the player with the most career interceptions in professional football is Less Browne of the Canadian Football League who recorded 87 interceptions in his career.

[edit] NFL Interception Leaders

[edit] Interceptions Made

Career

• Paul Krause - 81 (1,185 return yards, 3 touchdowns)
• Emlen Tunnell - 79 (1,282 return yards, 4 touchdowns)
• Rod Woodson - 71 (1,483 return yards, 12 touchdowns)
• Dick Lane - 68 (1,207 return yards, 5 touchdowns)
• Ken Riley - 65 (596 return yards, 5 touchdowns)
• Ronnie Lott - 63 (730 return yards, 5 touchdowns)
• Dave Brown - 62 (698 return yards, 5 touchdowns)
• Dick LeBeau - 62 (762 return yards, 3 touchdowns
• Emmitt Thomas - 58 (937 return yards, 5 touchdowns)
• Mel Blount - 57 (736 return yards, 2 touchdowns)
• Bobby Boyd - 57 (994 return yards, 4 touchdowns)
• Johnny Robinson- 57 (714 return yards, 1 touchdown)
• Everson Walls - 57 (504 return yards, 1 touchdown)
• Eugene Robinson - 57 (762 return yards, 1 touchdown)

Single Season

• Dick Lane - 14
• Dan Sandifer - 13
• Orban Sanders - 13
• Lester Hayes - 13

There is a nine-way tie for fifth place with 12 interceptions.

Game

There is an 18-way tie for most interceptions in one game. The record is 4 interceptions.

[edit] Quarterbacks With Most Interceptions

Career

• George Blanda - 277
• John Hadl - 268
• Fran Tarkenton - 266

Season

• George Blanda - 42
• Vinny Testaverde - 35
• Frank Tripucka - 34

Game

• Jim Hardy - 8
• Parker Hall - 7
• Frank Sinkwich - 7
• Bob Waterfield - 7
• Zeke Bratkowski - 7
• Tommy Wade - 7
• Ken Stabler - 7
• Steve DeBerg - 7
• Ty Detmer - 7

[edit] CFL Interception Leaders

• Less Browne - 87
• Larry Highbaugh - 66
• Terry Iven - 62
• Don Wilson - 61
• Garney Henley - 59
• Don Sutherin - 58
• John Wydareny - 52
• Larry Crawford - 52
• Ed Learn - 51
• Andre Francis - 51
• Glen Suitor - 51
• Paul Bennett - 51
• Larry Robinson - 50

[edit] Australian rules football

Interceptions in Australian rules football happen when a player's kick or handpass is cut off. It is sometimes known as a clanger or missed kick that results in the opposition player gaining possession for their team.

[edit] External links

• NFL.com Record and Fact Book