[Ads-l] Antedating of "Sack" (U.S. Football, Verb and Noun)

Tue Oct 14 22:24:25 UTC 2025

 Here’s a 1959 use of “sacking” in an American football context. Peter
Reitan’s earliest uses of “sack (up)” in sports were about acquiring points
or adding players to a roster. Here, rushing a passer is closer to the
modern “sacking a quarterback."

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-picayune-1959-use-of-sacking/182995430/

The Times-Picayune, Fri, Dec 18, 1959, Page 33 [subhed] Captain of Sacking
Quarterbacks [/subhed] “‘Before you get the wrong idea, let me explain the
duties of the Captain of Sacking Quarterbacks,’ Petitbon smiled. ‘His job
is merely to remind the other linemen to rush the passer. It's not as bad
as it sounds.’“

GB

On May 6, 2024 at 11:54:30, "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:

> Outstanding work, Peter !
>
> Fred
>
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> Peter Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 2:11 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Antedating of "Sack" (U.S. Football, Verb and Noun)
>
> Sack, as a verb, in 1966.
>
> Indianapolis News, October 17, 1966, page 28. Newspapers.com
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-indianapolis-news%2F146684643%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248869079%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Y%2BjsiOTeSw6tLcFwenF8LpKUccjlQh9y8gUr5ylqzMk%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news/146684643/>
> [Begin Excerpt]After sacking Naponic in the end zone for the safety early,
> with Pont-recruited Jim Sniadecki the lead man, the Hoosiers got into
> Illini territory often but could only score once when Stavroff lofted a
> high pass to Terry Cole . . . .[End Excerpt]
>
> Austin American-Statesman, October 14, 1966, page 25.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Faustin-american-statesman%2F146684474%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248877192%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=J6vXv8hOy3pud58JilM0bhLsR2tR7wwG283jB3DXSRU%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/146684474/>
> [Begin Excerpt]Neely is a 275-pound hunk of beefcake who NFL pass rushers
> have found impossible to digest on their way to sacking the
> quarterback.[End Excerpt]
>
> There were other uses of "sack" as a verb in sports reporting at the time,
> and in the years prior, which might be seen as predecessor analogs of the
> sense of tackling a quarterback for a loss, by capturing, beating up, or
> winning the play.
>
> For example:
>
> A team that beats another team soundly could be said to have "sacked" the
> team, similar, I suppose, to pillage.
>
> [Begin Excerpt]Yucaipa showed its vulnerability to a press in the latter
> stages of its sacking of Coachella, but hung on to win handily.[End Excerpt]
> San Bernardino County Sun, December 21, 1967, page E2.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-san-bernardino-county-sun%2F146702646%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248882456%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QnnyeYrJF9zm5r8gND3dqFD8Us7FSi4USiCY6nMCO4I%3D&reserved=0
> <
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun/146702646/
> >
>
> To capture a league or division championship or title of some sort, could
> be referred to as "sacking" the title.
>
> [Begin Excerpt]In fact, in reaching the .500 bracket in pre-season play,
> the Rams have thrashed two Eastern Division clubs given excellent chances
> of sacking their division's title.[End Excerpt]
> Long Beach Independent, August 30, 1966, page C2.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Findependent%2F146702638%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248886629%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PJOEPpHUfjH%2BDKo07TAOK8j362j243ofJ2r%2B53tIylI%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent/146702638/>
>
> Even just winning one game could be referred to as "sacking" a win.
>
> [Begin Excerpt]A veteran of many perspiring Sundays in the Coliseum, Van
> Brocklin indeed used his noggin in sacking a win for Minnesota against the
> Rams, the one team in the NFL he enjoys beating the most.[End Excerpt]
> Long Beach Press-Telegram, October 4, 1965, page C1.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fpress-telegram%2F146702566%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248893696%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=V5SLyYeVFyPWC4gPF3QqooMKiqG892%2FM18ByflDyTEY%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram/146702566/>
>
> To sign a player to one's team could be referred to as "sacking up" that
> player.
>
> [Begin Excerpt]And there's one lineman still left out in the field that
> just about everyone has hopes of sacking up.  He's Mickey Walker . . .
> .[End Excerpt]
> The Austin American, June 15, 1958, page B7.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-austin-american%2F146702623%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248897932%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=c91GDfelW%2BRTtO1gtMTf7yi8EfQqrY2aM8%2BX0N7gdxA%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american/146702623/>
>
> In basketball, scoring points was referred to as "sacking" points.
>
> [Begin Excerpt]Gerald Robinson, 6-4 senior center, was the big gun for
> Ranburne, sacking 33 points and controlling the backboards.[End Excerpt]
> The Anniston Star (Alabama), January 19, 1957, page 10.
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Farticle%2Fthe-anniston-star%2F146702606%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248902007%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=EIW0yxDK9sbCNFduxjac%2FSbU%2Bgs9%2FZFDj%2FrbpELHu%2FA%3D&reserved=0
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-anniston-star/146702606/>
>
> Sometimes, scoring points was referred to as "sacking up" points, which
> was similar to fishing reports, in which catching fish was referred to as
> "sacking up" fish. Winning a game, or title, might also be "sacking up" the
> win, or the title.
>
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Ben
> Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 6:30 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: Re: Antedating of "Sack" (U.S. Football, Verb and Noun)
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Antedating of "Sack" (U.S. Football, Verb and Noun)
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I don't think we have direct evidence that Deacon Jones was the one who
> coined "sack," though he was clearly associated with the term early on.
> That 2013 thread was initiated by Larry Horn because the coinage claim
> appeared in obituaries for Jones at the time. Among the cites I gave was
> this one quoting Deacon Jones using the noun "sack" (comparing himself to
> Colts defensive end Bubba Smith):
>
> ---
> 1968 Los Angeles Times 24 Oct. iii. 1/5 "I've been in the league eight
> years; he's been in it only six weeks (Bubba was switched from tackle to
> end at the start of the season). I believe I have more sacks (tackling the
> quarterback) and more unassisted tackles than he does."
> ---
>
> And now we have Fred's Aug. 14, 1967 cite for the verb (in a new thread)
> which mentions Jones as the one doing the sacking but doesn't credit him
> with the coinage.
>
> --bgz
>
> On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 7:40=E2=80=AFAM Shapiro, Fred <
> fred.shapiro at yale.edu=
>
> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks to Garson and Ben !  Is there any evidence for the often-repeated
>
> claim that Deacon Jones coined "sack" ?
>
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Ben
>
> Zimmer <bgzimmer at GMAIL.COM>
>
> Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 12:55 AM
>
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>
> Subject: Re: Antedating of "Sack" (U.S. Football, Verb and Noun)
>
>
> In a 2013 thread, Garson shared a 1967 cite for "sack" as a verb (after I
>
> supplied 1968 cites for the noun and verb).
>
>
>
> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flistserv.linguistlist.org%2Fpipermail%2Fads-l%2F2013-June%2F127387.html&data=05%7C02%7Cfred.shapiro%40YALE.EDU%7C21593d3256584aac0b4008dc6df806c0%7Cdd8cbebb21394df8b4114e3e87abeb5c%7C0%7C0%7C638506159248905745%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=u8N18kGFKFqn%2FbblvkxjIQ%2Fnu13tVc7DAYLc4mxmEho%3D&reserved=0
> <https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2013-June/127387.html>
>
>
> Date: December 18, 1967
>
> Newspaper: The Independent
>
> Article title: Rams Stopped Unitas - And Won
>
> Author: Joe Hendrickson
>
> Quote Page: 16
>
> Column: 1
>
> Newspaper Location: Pasadena, California
>
> Database: NewspaperArchive
>
>
> [Begin excerpt]
>
> The great Baltimore quarterback seldom has been "sacked" like this
>
> before-48 yards in losses when thrown behind the line of scrimmage at
>
> seven crucial times by the charging men of George Allen.
>
> [End excerpt]
>
>
> On Sun, May 5, 2024 at 8:06=E2=80=AFPM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.e=
>
> du>
>
> wrote:
>
>
> > sack (OED, v.1 d., 1969)
>
> >
>
> > 1968 _Progress-Bulletin_ (Pomona, Cal.) 5 Apr. 3:1/1 (Newspapers.com)
>
> >
>
> > Jones sacked that opposing QB 26 times !
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > sack (OED, n.1 I.1.j., 1972)
>
> >
>
> > 1971 _Dayton Daily News_ 3 Sept. 11/1 (Newspapers.com)
>
> >
>
> > May ... relieved Reid against Pittsburgh and on his first play got cred=
>
> it
>
> > for the first quarterback sack of the year.
>
>
>
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