The Best Examples of Pistol Offense in Football: 3 Practical Looks You Can Steal

When coaches look for examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples, this is usually the first one they think of: using pistol to create a true downhill run game while keeping the quarterback in a comfortable, shotgun-like alignment.

In a traditional shotgun, the back is offset. That’s great for some schemes, but it tips direction and makes certain under-center style runs harder to sell. The pistol fixes that. With the back directly behind the QB at about 5–7 yards, you get:

• A downhill aiming point for the running back.
• Balanced looks to either side.
• Better play-action fakes that look like under-center runs.

Instead of a numbered list of plays, think of this first example of pistol offense as a family of concepts built around power, inside zone, and counter.

Power and Counter From Pistol

If you want real examples of the pistol being used as a power run machine, look at early 2010s Nevada under Chris Ault (who popularized the pistol) and later versions with teams like the 2012–2013 Washington Redskins and the 2012–2014 San Francisco 49ers.

A common structure:

• QB in pistol at 4 yards.
• RB at 7 yards directly behind.
• Two tight ends or a tight end and an H-back.

From there, you can run:

Pistol Power – Guard pulls, fullback or H-back leads through the hole, RB hits downhill. The defense sees a balanced formation, no obvious strength, and suddenly the guard is kicking out the end and you’re running power like you’re under center.

Pistol Counter – Same initial look, but now the backside guard and tackle pull. The RB takes a jab step, then follows the pullers. From the defense’s point of view, it’s all happening fast and straight at them, not from a wide shotgun angle.

These are some of the best examples of pistol offense in football because they show exactly why coaches fell in love with the formation: you can marry old-school gap schemes with modern spacing.

Inside Zone and Duo From Pistol

Modern offenses also love running inside zone and duo (sometimes called “power without a puller”) from pistol. Watch teams like the Baltimore Ravens and some college spread-to-run programs; you’ll see:

• The RB pressing the line of scrimmage downhill.
• The QB reading an end or linebacker for keep/hand-off decisions.

The beauty here is that the running back’s track looks like a traditional I-formation run, but the defense is stretched horizontally by the spread alignment. This is a textbook example of pistol offense being used to keep your entire playbook open: under-center style runs, shotgun spacing, and QB run threats all in one package.

For coaches, this first bucket of examples answers a simple question: Can I keep my favorite runs and still modernize my offense? With pistol, yes.

Example of Pistol Offense #2: Play-Action and Shot Plays

When people talk through examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples, they often stop at the run game. That’s a mistake. The pistol is a fantastic launchpad for deep shots and layered play-action concepts.

Because the running back is directly behind the quarterback, your run fakes look more like old-school I-formation football. Linebackers are trained from youth to respect that downhill action. When they step up, you throw over their heads.

Classic Boot and Flood Concepts

One of the cleanest real examples of pistol play-action came from the early 2010s 49ers with Colin Kaepernick. They would:

• Show downhill pistol power or zone.
• Have the QB reverse out or half-roll.
• Send a three-level flood to the rollout side.

To the defense, it looks like power until it’s not. The backers step forward, the safeties hesitate, and suddenly there’s a deep over route or corner route wide open.

At the high school level, you can steal this idea without copying the entire playbook:

• Align in pistol with a tight end and two receivers.
• Run your favorite inside run a few times.
• Then fake that same run, boot the QB out, and send:
  • One receiver deep (go or post).
  • One intermediate (cross or out).
  • One in the flat.

That combination – run threat plus three-level stretch – is one of the best examples of pistol offense in football creating explosive plays without changing your core identity.

Deep Shots Off Power Action

Another strong example of pistol offense: power-action deep shots. Think of it this way:

• You’ve pounded pistol power and counter.
• The defense starts walking safeties down and loading the box.
• Now you fake power, keep extra protection, and launch a post or deep over.

College teams like Oklahoma and Ohio State have used pistol alignments in recent seasons to sell strong run action and then hit vertical routes, especially off motion. You’ll see:

• Motion from a slot or H-back to simulate a lead blocker.
• Offensive line firing off like run.
• QB turning his back to the defense with a hard fake.

That “turn your back” action is harder from pure shotgun, but from pistol it looks natural. Linebackers lose sight of the ball, bite on the fake, and your receiver is streaking behind them.

If you’re studying film, these are perfect examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples that show how the same formation can stress defenses vertically, not just horizontally.

Example of Pistol Offense #3: Spread, Option, and RPO Packages

The third big bucket in our examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples is the spread/RPO world. This is where the pistol has really evolved in 2024–2025.

You’ll see more offenses combining pistol alignment with:

• Zone read.
• Bash concepts (RB one way, QB run the other).
• Glance RPOs and bubble screens.

The goal is simple: force defenders to be wrong, no matter what they choose.

Zone Read and QB Run Threats

Teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals (with mobile QBs), and a long list of college programs use pistol as a way to:

• Keep the RB downhill.
• Give the QB a clear read on the end man on the line.

A typical example of pistol offense in this category:

• 2x2 spread formation.
• QB in pistol, RB behind.
• Inside zone to the right, QB reading the left defensive end.

If the end crashes, QB keeps and attacks the edge. If the end sits, QB hands off and lets the RB hit the crease. Same picture for the offensive line, same backfield action, multiple threats.

RPOs From Pistol

In 2024 and 2025, more coordinators are pairing pistol runs with quick RPOs. You’ll see:

• Inside zone + glance route (skinny post) behind aggressive linebackers.
• Outside zone + bubble screen to a slot receiver.

The quarterback catches the snap, meshes with the running back, and reads a second-level defender. If that defender flies to the run, the QB pulls and fires the quick route. If the defender hangs back, the ball stays with the RB.

This is one of the more modern examples of pistol offense in football: it uses the same downhill run look from our first example, but now layers in post-snap reads and quick throws.

Motion and Misdirection

Another trend in 2024–2025 is combining pistol with motion to create eye candy. Watch high-scoring college offenses and you’ll notice:

• Jet motion across the formation.
• Orbit motion behind the QB and RB.
• Shifts from bunch to spread right before the snap.

The defense has to track all of that while still respecting the downhill run and QB keep threat. When you add in RPOs, you’re giving the quarterback multiple answers without changing the core look.

These spread-and-RPO packages are some of the best examples of pistol offense in football if you’re coaching at the high school or small-college level and want to keep your terminology simple while still looking “modern” on film.

More Real Examples: How Different Levels Use the Pistol

To hit that 6–8 range of examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples, let’s zoom out and look at how different levels are using it today.

Youth and High School

At the youth and JV levels, pistol is often used to simplify snaps and reads:

• Quarterbacks get a clearer view of the defense than under center.
• Snaps are shorter and more reliable than deep shotgun.
• Coaches can run familiar I-formation plays without teaching a whole new system.

A common youth example of pistol offense: a basic power or iso run from pistol with one or two simple play-action passes tagged on. You don’t need an NFL quarterback to make this work; you just need a center who can snap 4 yards and a back who can run downhill.

For information on youth sports safety and conditioning while you build out your pistol package, the CDC’s youth sports resources are a helpful reference point: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/youth_sports.htm

College

In college, pistol shows up in dozens of playbooks, even if only as a package. Spread teams will:

• Jump into pistol in short-yardage to get more downhill push.
• Use pistol on early downs for run-pass balance.
• Pair pistol with tempo to keep defenses from substituting.

If you’re scouting film, you’ll often see pistol on first-and-10 or red-zone snaps as a way to keep the full menu of runs and passes available.

NFL

In the NFL, pistol usage ebbs and flows based on personnel. When teams have mobile quarterbacks and powerful backs, pistol can be a nice changeup. You’ll see it:

• In red zone packages.
• On two-point conversions.
• As a wrinkle to mess with defensive keys.

These pro-level looks are more nuanced, but they’re still examples of pistol offense that come back to the same three themes we’ve covered: downhill run, believable play-action, and option/RPO threats.

For coaches or players interested in how offensive schemes evolve and how to teach them safely and effectively, organizations like USA Football share scheme-agnostic coaching resources: https://usafootball.com

Teaching and Installing Your Own Pistol Package

If you’re inspired by these examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples and want to install your own version, keep it simple.

Start with:

• One base run (inside zone, power, or counter).
• One play-action concept off that run.
• One option or RPO tag if your QB can handle it.

Rep the footwork, mesh, and timing until they feel natural. The formation itself isn’t magic. What makes the best examples of pistol offense work is consistency of looks and variety of answers:

• Same alignment, same motion, same backfield action.
• Different outcomes for the defense to handle.

And don’t ignore strength and conditioning. A downhill run game from pistol still demands linemen who can move people. For guidance on training and injury prevention, the National Institutes of Health offers evidence-based resources you can adapt to your level: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries

FAQ: Common Questions About Pistol Offense Examples

What are some common examples of pistol offense plays?

Common examples of pistol offense include inside zone with a QB read, power and counter with the RB directly behind the QB, bootleg play-action off those runs, and RPOs like inside zone + glance route or bubble screen.

Is the pistol offense only for mobile quarterbacks?

No. Many of the best examples of pistol offense in football come from teams with average athletes at QB. The downhill run game and play-action shots work just fine without designed QB runs. Mobility just adds another layer.

Can youth teams run the pistol effectively?

Yes. Youth and middle school teams often use pistol to clean up snaps and give young quarterbacks better vision. Start with a simple run and a basic play-action pass, then build from there.

What’s the difference between shotgun and pistol in terms of run game?

In shotgun, the back is offset, which can tip play direction and change the RB’s angle. In pistol, the back is directly behind the QB, which creates a more downhill, balanced run threat and better under-center style play-action.

How many pistol concepts should I install in my first season?

For most programs, 3–5 core plays from pistol – a couple of runs, one or two play-action concepts, and maybe one option/RPO – are enough. The best examples of pistol offense in football aren’t about having 40 plays; they’re about making a few looks feel the same to your offense and different to the defense.

If you keep these examples of pistol offense in football: 3 practical examples in mind – power run, play-action shots, and spread/RPO packages – you’ll have more than enough to build a dangerous, modern offense without drowning your players in terminology or your play sheet in clutter.