Why Do Quarterbacks Kneel? Victory Formation Explained

Aug 23

2 min read

Updated: 6 hours ago

A quarterback kneels to use a down while allowing the game clock to run. With enough downs and too little time for the opponent to regain possession, the offense can finish the game without attempting a conventional run or pass.

Part of Football 101. Explore the guide to choose your next topic.

Quarterbacks kneel to end a game with the lowest practical risk of a turnover, injury or clock-stopping mistake.

The knee makes the ball dead; it does not ordinarily stop the game clock. That distinction is the basis of victory formation.

Why no tackle is required

NFL rules end the down when a quarterback immediately drops to his knee, or simulates doing so. A player can also give himself up under the rule's separate provisions. Defensive contact is unnecessary for these recognized actions, unlike an ordinary runner who falls and has not otherwise become down by contact.

The snap still matters. Until the play becomes dead, a mishandled exchange can create a loose ball. Victory formation places extra players close to the quarterback as protection against that possibility. It does not grant immunity from normal football rules.

Calculate time, downs and timeouts

Most of the time disappears between plays, when the ordinary 40 second play clock runs alongside the game clock. Each kneel consumes a down and a small amount of live playing time.

Suppose a team takes over on first down with 50 seconds left, the game clock stopped and no defensive timeouts. The first kneel starts the clock. A second snap before the play clock expires can normally consume the remaining time. The calculation changes if the defense can stop the clock, an administrative stoppage occurs or the offense has fewer downs available.

The two minute warning also interrupts the sequence. There is no single threshold that makes every game safe: first down with no opposing timeouts is a different situation from third down with two opposing timeouts.

Kneel or spike?

A spike creates an incomplete pass and stops the game clock. A kneel usually keeps it moving. Both use a down, but the offense chooses between saving time and spending time. Before assuming victory formation means the game is over, check the down, remaining seconds and defensive timeout count.