Pulling (American football)

Pulling is when a blocking player in American football leaves his usual spot in order to pick up another assignment on the opposite side of the field,[1] running behind the other offensive linemen, to sprint out in front of a running back and engage a defensive player beyond the initial width of the offensive line.

While tackles can also pull, this strategy is generally less common as they are too far away to pull to the opposite side of the formation (for counter plays) and have the responsibility of blocking the outside defender (generally the defensive end) for outside runs.

Pop Warner invented the trap block with his single wing.

[3] In the 1960s, National Football League (NFL) coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers utilized the Packers sweep play in which guards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston rapidly pulled out from their normal positions and led blocking for the running back (typically Paul Hornung or Jim Taylor) going around the end.

It was an integral part of an offense that won five NFL titles in seven years.