Glossary of American Football - G

G

game manager

A quarterback who makes a minimum number of mistakes for a team that relies on its defense and rushing offense to win games.

goal

A surface in space marked by a structure of two upright posts 18 feet 6 inches apart extending above a horizontal crossbar whose top edge is 10 feet off the ground. The goal is the surface above the bar and between the lines of the inner edges of the posts, extending infinitely upward, centered above each end line in American, and each goal line in Canadian football.

goal area

Alternate term for end zone, used primarily in Canadian football.

goal line

The front of the end zone.

goal line stand

When a team's defense stops another team's offense from scoring a touchdown when the opposition's offense is near the line.

gridiron

1. The field of play; a football field

2. A generalized term for American, Canadian, arena, and other related forms of football, especially in contrast with rugby football (rugby union, rugby league) and association football (soccer). See also gridiron football.

The word derives from the same root as griddle, meaning a "lattice." The original field was marked in a grid of crisscrossed lines; the ball would be snapped in the grid in which it was downed on the previous play. In modern usage, a gridiron—whether in cooking or football—is considered a surface with parallel lines. American and related codes of football have lines spaced out every 5 yards (as compared to 10-12 metres in rugby), giving the field a unique look among football codes.

guard (OG)

One of two player positions on offense. See lineman.

gunslinger

Term for a quarterback who plays with an aggressive and decisive manner by throwing deep, risky passes. These quarterbacks usually possess the strong arm needed to throw deep effectively. NFL Network named Brett Favre as the best gunslinger of all time.

gunner

The widest player on the line in a punting formation. The gunner is often one of the fastest players on the team, usually a cornerback or wide receiver.