Quarterbacked

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Performed the role of a quarterback, directing plays and handling the ball during a game
2. Took charge as the main player responsible for passing and leading the offense in football
3. Led the team's attack by throwing or running the ball as the primary playmaker on the field

Etymology: "Quarterbacked" is the past tense and past participle of "quarterback," so its history is that of the noun. The name comes from the position's placement on the field: the player stood a short distance behind the line of scrimmage, roughly a quarter of the way back toward the rear of the formation, and took the ball from the center before handing it or passing it on. The "back" half of the name reflects the football usage of "back" for players positioned behind the line, while "quarter" refers to that location in the formation. The verb grew out of the noun, so to quarterback a team came to mean to direct its offense, calling plays and handling the ball, in the same way the position itself does. Nothing about the word's sense changed dramatically; it simply moved from naming a player to describing the act of playing that role.