Football (American) question

[Shinna_Minna_Ma]

How did “sack” come to mean tackling the quarterback?

[Novelty_Bobble]

I’m not from the USA or a (USA) football fan, but “sack” has an archaic meaning relating to a military assault.

[voltaire]

^Yep.

The term “sack” was first coined by Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones in the 1960s, who felt that a sack devastated the offense in the same way that a city was devastated when it was sacked.[3]

Prior to “sack”, the term “dump” was often used, and the NFL’s statistical office recorded all sacks under “dumping the passer”.[4]

Quarterback sack

[Zeldar]

I can appreciate the confusion with the use of “sack” to mean “sacrifice.” Two different ideas, same term. Confusing. You’ve gotten the good reasons already!