A pick in football is an interception: a pass that is caught by a defensive player instead of the intended receiver. It is a turnover, so the defense takes possession on the spot, and if the defender returns it for a touchdown it is called a pick six. “Pick” also has two other football meanings, a draft pick and a pick play, covered below.
How an Interception Happens
A defender intercepts a pass by catching it in bounds before it hits the ground. The play is live after the catch, so the defender can run it back, and his team takes over wherever he is tackled or goes out of bounds. Most interceptions come from tipped passes, throws into tight coverage, quarterbacks under pressure or miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver. Cornerbacks and safeties make most of them, but linebackers and even defensive linemen can get picks.
Pick Sixes and Other Returns
A pick six is an interception returned for a touchdown, worth six points before the extra point. Rod Woodson holds the NFL career record with 12. If a defender intercepts a pass in his own end zone and downs it there, it is a touchback and his team takes over at its own 20 yard line; he can also choose to run it out.
Interception Records
Paul Krause, a safety for Washington and Minnesota from 1964 to 1979, holds the career record with 81 interceptions. Night Train Lane set the single season record of 14 as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952, in a 12 game season, and no one has matched it since. On the other side, Brett Favre threw more interceptions than anyone, 336, though he also threw 508 touchdowns. The single season record for interceptions thrown belongs to George Blanda, who threw 42 for the Houston Oilers of the AFL in 1962.
Draft Picks and Pick Plays
“Pick” also refers to a team’s selection in the NFL Draft, as in a first round pick. And on offense, a pick play is a route combination where one receiver crosses in front of a defender to free a teammate, similar to a screen in basketball. It is legal if the receiver simply runs his route, but if he deliberately blocks a defender before the pass is caught, it is offensive pass interference.
This Season’s Leaders
For the current top ballhawks, see our live NFL interception leaders, updated after every game.
The Bottom Line
A pick is an interception, one of the most important plays in football because it flips possession instantly. Paul Krause holds the career record with 81, and Night Train Lane’s 14 in 1952 is still the single season mark. Career records are available at the Pro Football Hall of Fame and on NFL.com.
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