If you have watched football you may have heard the term pick, picked off, or even someone yell pick 6! Have you ever wondered what the term “pick” means?

What is a “pick” in football? A pick in football is an Interception. Pick  = Interception (INT)

A pick is very exciting, because it’s a turnover. Much like a fumble, it can change the course of a game. And cause a huge momentum shift.

Getting a pick can help your team win a game, and could be the difference maker. 

Pick or Interception Basics

When the quarterback is trying to throw a pass to one of his receivers (WR, RB, or TE), a pick, or interception, is when the defensive player is the one to catch the ball. This results in a turnover.

The team (or defense) that catches it, now controls the ball on offense. This is why any turnover is a huge momentum shift and very problematic for the team that turned the ball over. 

Interceptions are a very exciting play in football. Defenders always want to make huge plays for their teams, and causing turnovers is a quick way to do that. Getting a “pick” or even a “pick six” is a great way to help your team win the game.

Whether you are playing contact football, flag football, or just a pick up game, turnovers always create a better opportunity for your team to win the game. 

All Time Interception (Pick) Leaders in the NFL

Player	Number of Interceptions	Career Achievements
Paul Krause	81	Krause played for the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings during his NFL career, and he is the all-time leader in interceptions with 81. He was a four-time First-Team All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler.
Emlen Tunnell	79	Tunnell played for the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers during his NFL career, and he is second on the all-time interceptions list with 79. He was a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL champion.
Rod Woodson	71	Woodson played for several NFL teams during his career, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland Raiders. He is third on the all-time interceptions list with 71 and was a 11-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.
Dick “Night Train” Lane	68	Lane played for several NFL teams during his career, including the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. He is fourth on the all-time interceptions list with 68 and was a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro.
Ed Reed	64	Reed played for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and New York Jets during his NFL career. He is fifth on the all-time interceptions list with 64 and was a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion

How do players get picks in football?

There are few keys for a defender to get a pick in football. Below is a quick list that every defender must do in order to get a pick.

1. Anticipation – A defender must anticipate where the QB is going to throw the ball. Watching the QB’s eyes and body movement can tip a defender off to where the ball is going to be thrown. Anticipating this movement and jumping the route can help you get a pick! 
2. Great hands – Usually defenders get put on the defensive side of the ball because they are great tacklers, and not great ball handlers. Working on your hand eye coordination and being able to catch will help you get picks at all levels.
3. Good footwork – Being able to cover fast receivers that can run good routes will help put you in the right position to get picks. Working on your footwork can help you close on balls faster, and change directions getting you in the proper position to intercept the ball. 
4. Practice – Working on your coverage skills, practicing catching, and seeing yourself make the play over and over again will help you when the game is on the line. 

Where did the term pick 6 come from?

The term pick has been used in many different sports. You may have heard the phrase ‘I picked your pocket’ in basketball. That means you stole the ball from the player with the ball. 

Pick is a slang term in sports meaning you stole it from the other player. So in football the term picked off or pick is just a slang term, meaning the defense took it from the offense. In football its used when the player picks the ball out of the air during a pass play.

The six part of pick 6 comes from the touchdown that occurs after the interception. If a player intercepts the ball and then runs into the end zone they are awarded a touchdown, which is six points. So the term pick 6 was born.

How do you avoid throwing a pick?

A quarterback is always held responsible for throwing the interception. Even if the interception happens after a tipped ball, or a dropped pass.

Its one of those stats that is a glaring negative on the quarterback position. So how can a quarterback limit interceptions? Below is a list of things a quarterback must practice to limit his picks.

1.  Read the defense – The quarterback needs to do his homework. He needs to know if the defense is dropping into a zone, or playing man to man. Recognizing the defense will help the QB know where to throw the ball. 
2. Know where the good players are located –  Knowing your matchups is important. If a team has a lock down corner, you probably don’t want to throw the ball in their direction. Deion Sanders was one of the best corners in the NFL. I guarantee NFL QB’s knew where he was on the field at all times. 
3. Ball placement – Throwing the ball only where your player can catch it is a great way to avoid picks. When a QB is throwing the ball in a tight window its always good to throw the ball accurately away from the defender. This helps make sure only your player has a chance to catch the pass. 
4.  Good blocking– While the QB often takes the blame for interceptions, they are often caused by bad blocking. If a QB is rushed and has to make a quick decision, it most likely will be a bad decision. Forcing the ball out too quickly can result in a QB throwing a lot of picks. 
5. Practice – Practice makes perfect. Knowing where your receivers are at all times, reading the defense and making good throws all take practice. The more work you put into practice, the better you will be in the games.

Who has thrown the most picks in the NFL?

It is a lot easier to throw an interception than it is to catch one! George Blanta has the record for most interceptions thrown in a single season.

He threw a whopping 42 picks in 1962 playing for the Houston Oilers. Vinny Testaverde comes in second on this not-so-great list with 35 in 1988 playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is a list of the top INTs thrown in the NFL.

Brett Favre however has the record for the most pick 6 in the NFL coming in with 31! To be fair, Favre had a very long career and played for many years.

He is in great company, coming in second on that list is fellow Hall of Fame QB Dan Marino with 29 pick 6 in his 16 year career. Here is a list of the other, very recognizable names.

Summary

Interceptions are one of the most exciting plays in football. A pick or a pick six can be ‘game changers’ since they have such a big impact on the game. Turnovers are key to win a football game.

Defenses are always looking for ways to get the ball back for their offense to score.

If they can not only get a turnover, but also score a touchdown even better.

Next time someone yells PICK 6, you’ll know exactly what they are talking about.