Editing Quarterback (section)

{{Short description|Position in gridiron football}}
{{About|the position in American and Canadian football}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
[[File:Tom Brady In 2019.jpg|thumb|Seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in a 2019 game at the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]].]]
The '''quarterback''' ('''QB''') is a position in [[gridiron football]] who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the [[Lineman (football)|offensive line]]. In [[modern American football]], the quarterback is usually considered the leader of the offense, and is often responsible for calling the play in the [[huddle]]. The quarterback also touches the ball on almost every offensive play, and is almost always the offensive player that throws [[forward pass]]es. When the QB is tackled behind the [[line of scrimmage]], it is called a [[Quarterback sack|sack]]. The position is also colloquially known as the "signal caller" and "field general".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/nfl/signal-caller.aspx |title=Signal Caller Definition - Sporting Charts |access-date=March 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628020242/https://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/nfl/signal-caller.aspx |archive-date=June 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> The quarterback is widely considered the most important position in American football, and one of the most important positions in [[team sport]]s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Bucky |title=Ranking each position's importance, from quarterback to returner |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-each-position-s-importance-from-quarterback-to-returner-0ap3000000503855 |website=NFL }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chesner |first1=Eli |title=The 5 Most Important Positions In Sports |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/451463-the-5-most-important-positions-in-sports |website=Bleacher Report |date=July 27, 2015|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>