What it is

A kneel is a play in which the quarterback takes the snap and kneels down immediately, ending the play without a risk of a fumble.

In a game

A team that is ahead near the end of the game uses kneels to run the clock down. Each kneel uses a down and takes a few seconds, and the defense cannot do much about it.

More detail

The ball is dead the moment the quarterback’s knee touches the ground, which is why it is also called taking a knee. Kneeling is part of the “victory formation,” in which the offense lines up to end the game.

Animated diagram

1. The offense wants the clock to keep running, and it leads late in the game.
2. The quarterback takes the snap and kneels down immediately.
3. The play is over, nobody can hit him, and the team has used time without taking a risk.