Drop-back pass

A drop-back pass or dropping back to pass is a passing style employed in American football in which the quarterback initially takes a three-step drop, backpedaling into the pocket to make a pass.^[1] It is the most common way of passing the ball in gridiron football.^[2] Kinds include a three-step drop, a five-step drop, and a seven-step drop.^[3][4]

A quarterback at practice, dropping back to pass.

References

1. "The Quarterback's Stance, Drop Back, and Hand Off - dummies".
2. Wilkinson, Bud (1 July 1993). Football: Winning Offense. Sports Illustrated. ISBN 9781461733256 – via Google Books.
3. Colby, Greg (1 January 2013). Football: Steps to Success. Human Kinetics. ISBN 9781450411707 – via Google Books.
4. "Controlling the Ball With the Pass".