A quarterback and an interception are not two kinds of player or two versions of the same thing. One is a position; the other is a play outcome. The quarterback usually throws the forward pass, while an interception happens when a defender catches that pass before it hits the ground and takes possession for the defense.
That distinction matters when you’re following a game or reading a box score. A quarterback can throw an interception, but the interception itself is made by a defensive player—and it can change the direction of a game in seconds.
What is a quarterback?
The quarterback, often called the QB, is an offensive position. Usually lined up behind the center, the quarterback receives the snap and directs the offense. The QB may hand the ball to a running back, keep it and run, or throw a pass to a receiver or another eligible teammate.
Quarterbacks are closely associated with passing because they make many of the team’s throws, but they do not have to pass on every play. They read the defensive alignment, communicate or adjust the play, and decide what to do once the ball is snapped. A quarterback might throw the ball away to avoid a sack, scramble for yards, or hand it off instead of risking a pass into tight coverage.
What is an interception?
An interception occurs when a defensive player catches a forward pass before it touches the ground. The defender takes possession, ending the offense’s control of the ball. The play may continue: the defender can run it back toward the offense’s end zone, while the other team tries to tackle them.
Any eligible defensive player can make an interception. It might be a cornerback jumping in front of a wide receiver, a safety reading the quarterback’s eyes, or a linebacker catching a pass after it is tipped. If the defender is tackled or goes down, the defense begins its next possession from the spot where the play ended, subject to the applicable rules and any penalties.
An interception is one type of turnover. A fumble that the defense recovers is another. The key difference is that an interception comes from a pass caught by the defense; a fumble involves a player losing possession of the ball in another way.
Quarterback vs. interception: the key differences
| Term | What it means | Who is involved? | What it can lead to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | An offensive position responsible for directing plays and handling the snap | Usually the team’s primary passer, though the QB can also hand off or run | A completed pass, an incompletion, a sack, a run, or a turnover, among other outcomes |
| Interception | A defensive player catching an opponent’s forward pass before it hits the ground | The defender who catches it; often the opposing quarterback threw the pass | A change of possession, sometimes followed by a return |
So, the simplest way to remember it is: the quarterback is a player’s role; an interception is something that can happen during a play.
Does an interception always count against the quarterback?
Not necessarily. If a quarterback throws a pass that a defender catches, the QB is generally charged with an interception in the statistics. But the situation leading to it can be more complicated than “the quarterback made a bad throw.”
A receiver might fail to secure a catch and tip the ball into the air, giving a defender an easy opportunity. A defensive lineman could deflect a pass at the line of scrimmage. Or a defender might make an outstanding read and break on a throw that looked open at first. The quarterback still may be credited with the interception, even if a teammate’s mistake or a defender’s play helped create it.
For example, picture a quarterback aiming for a receiver on a crossing route. A linebacker steps into the passing lane and catches the ball. That is an interception: the linebacker has taken possession for the defense. The quarterback remains the quarterback; the catch does not change the player’s position.
A famous example came in Super Bowl XLIX, when New England cornerback Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass from Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson near the goal line. Butler made the interception; Wilson was the quarterback who threw the pass. The play illustrates both terms clearly—and how an interception can have a major impact on a game.
How to read interception stats
In a box score, interceptions thrown are commonly abbreviated as INT. A quarterback’s passing line may list completions, attempts, passing yards, touchdowns, and INTs. Defensive statistics record the player who made the interception, and may also include how many yards that player returned the ball.
Interceptions are important, but they do not tell the whole story of a quarterback’s performance. A QB who throws one interception could still have played well overall, while a pass that is dropped by a defender might not show up in the INT column at all. It helps to consider the game situation, the quality of the defense, and whether the turnover resulted from the quarterback’s decision, a deflection, or another mistake.
Related Articles
- What Is a Quarterback in American Football? Role and Skills
- What Is an Interception in American Football?
- When Is the Quarterback Used in American Football?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a quarterback make an interception?
Yes, if the quarterback is playing defense and catches an opponent’s pass. But “quarterback” normally describes an offensive role, while “interception” describes the defensive play of catching a forward pass.
Is every incomplete pass an interception?
No. An incomplete pass hits the ground or otherwise is not caught legally, and the offense keeps possession for its next down. It becomes an interception only if a defender catches the pass before it hits the ground.
Can a receiver cause a quarterback’s interception?
A receiver can contribute to one—for example, by tipping a catchable pass into a defender’s hands. The quarterback may still be charged with the interception in the statistics, even when the receiver’s mistake helped cause it.
Can a team score after an interception?
Yes. If the defender returns the interception into the opposing end zone, the defense scores a touchdown. If the return ends short, the team that made the interception keeps possession and starts its offensive series from where the play ended.
Final Thoughts
A quarterback is a position on offense; an interception is a turnover created when a defender catches a forward pass. A quarterback may throw one, but the defender makes it. Keeping that difference in mind makes play-by-play calls and passing statistics much easier to understand—and helps explain why a single defensive catch can swing a game.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.