What Is a Flea Flicker in Football?

In a flea flicker play, the quarterback (someone like Patrick Mahomes) hands the ball off to a running back (i.e. Alvin Kamara), who then pitches it back to the quarterback. The quarterback then throws a deep pass down the field, usually to a wide receiver (i.e. Stefon Diggs), hoping to catch the defense off guard and create a big play.

IMPORTANT TIPS

There are some important things to keep in mind when running a flea flicker. The most critical is where the line of scrimmage is. For the play to be legal, the running back (RB) must pitch the ball back to the quarterback (QB) from behind the line of scrimmage. If the RB crosses the line of scrimmage at any time, the QB will be ineligible to throw a forward pass, and he would need to run the ball himself after receiving the pitch.

EXECUTING A FLEA FLICKER AS A PLAYER

Executing a successful flea flicker requires the quarterback to have a strong arm and the ability to throw an accurate deep pass. They must also have a good touch and the ability to put the ball in a spot where only the wide receiver (WR) can catch it. The running back must have good ball-handling skills and the ability to execute a clean pitch back to the quarterback.

Several famous players have executed successful flea flickers, including Joe Montana, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl XXIII, Montana completed a 55-yard flea flicker pass to John Taylor, which set up the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes of the game.

EXECUTING A FLEA FLICKER AS A TEAM

A team can become better at executing a flea flicker by practicing the play and working on the timing and coordination between the QB, RB, and WR. This requires a lot of repetition and drill work, as well as a clear understanding of each player's role and responsibilities.

This play is designed to trick the defense into thinking that it's a running play, drawing them in towards the line of scrimmage and away from the receivers. The hope is that one of the receivers will be left wide open for a long completion.

CONCLUSION

The flea flicker is a high-risk and rarely used trick play in football. It starts as a run but ends up as a deep pass, and it's designed to draw the defense away from the pass. To execute it successfully, a team must practice the play and have a quarterback with a strong arm and a good touch, a running back with excellent ball-handling skills, and a receiver with the speed and agility to catch the ball. While it is not used frequently, when executed correctly, the flea flicker can be a game-changing play that can lead a team to victory.