The Best Examples of Read Option Offense in Football (With Modern Twists)

Classic College Examples of Read Option Offense in Football

When people talk about examples of read option offense examples in football, they almost always start with early 2010s college teams. That’s when the concept exploded on TV and forced defenses to rethink how they handled mobile quarterbacks.

Oregon Ducks under Chip Kelly (Marcus Mariota era)

If you want a clean, TV-friendly example of the read option, watch Oregon film from the Marcus Mariota years. The Ducks lived in shotgun, spreading the field with three or four wide receivers and a running back next to the quarterback.

The bread-and-butter play: inside zone read.

• The offensive line blocks inside zone, usually leaving the defensive end on the play side unblocked.
• Mariota meshes with the running back, eyes locked on that end.
• If the end crashes down to tackle the back, Mariota pulls and sprints outside.
• If the end stays wide to contain the quarterback, Mariota hands off and lets the back pound the inside lane.

What made Oregon one of the best examples of read option offense was tempo. They snapped the ball so fast that defenses barely had time to align, let alone disguise who was responsible for the quarterback. The scheme wasn’t fancy; the execution and speed were.

Auburn Tigers with Cam Newton (2010)

Another iconic example of read option offense examples in football is the 2010 Auburn offense with Cam Newton. Auburn used more power principles than Oregon, but the logic was the same: make a defender wrong no matter what he does.

Auburn loved the power read:

• The line blocks power, pulling a guard around the edge.
• The quarterback reads an outside defender, often a linebacker or defensive end.
• The running back runs laterally as if on a sweep, and Newton can either give it or keep it and follow the pulling guard.

Because Cam was such a physical runner, defenses had to treat him like a running back. That turned Auburn into one of the best real examples of a read option offense where the quarterback is truly a featured ball carrier, not just a “keep it once in a while” guy.

Modern NFL Examples of Read Option Offense Examples in Football

The NFL doesn’t live on read option the way some college teams do, but there are plenty of examples of read option offense examples in football at the pro level. The league has learned to blend old-school run concepts with option reads to protect quarterbacks while still stressing defenses.

Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts (2022–2024)

If you want modern, high-level examples include the Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts. Their offense under Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen (and later Brian Johnson) mixes:

• Inside zone read
• RPOs (run-pass options)
• QB draws and sneaks

On a typical inside zone read for the Eagles:

• The offensive line blocks inside zone, often in their signature tight formations.
• The unblocked edge player gets read by Hurts.
• Hurts can hand to the back, keep it, or in some concepts even throw a quick slant or bubble if the defense overcommits.

What makes the Eagles one of the best examples of read option offense is how they pair it with the passing game. They don’t just read a defensive end; they often read a linebacker or safety for RPO throws. That blend keeps Hurts from taking hits every play while still using his legs as a real threat.

For a deeper look at how RPOs evolved from the read option, the American Football Coaches Association has several helpful clinic notes and articles that break down the concept in coach-friendly language: https://www.afca.com.

Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson (2019 MVP season and beyond)

Another obvious example of a read option-heavy NFL attack is the Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson. In 2019, Lamar’s MVP season, the Ravens built an offense around pistol formations, read option, and power run concepts.

Here’s what you’ll often see:

• The back lines up behind Lamar in pistol.
• The offensive line blocks a mix of inside zone, outside zone, and power.
• Lamar reads the edge defender or an overhang linebacker.
• If the defender squeezes inside, Lamar keeps and races to the perimeter.
• If the defender widens, the back hits the designed run lane.

Baltimore is one of the best real examples of read option offense where the scheme is tailored to the quarterback’s rare athleticism. Defenses have to assign a spy, widen their edges, and often bring an extra defender into the box—opening up one-on-one coverage outside.

College Spread Offenses: More Real Examples

Beyond the famous programs, there are tons of examples of read option offense examples in football at the college level today, especially in spread systems.

Ohio State Buckeyes (Urban Meyer to Ryan Day transition)

Under Urban Meyer, Ohio State leaned heavily on QB run game with read option and power read. With Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and later a more pocket-focused Dwayne Haskins, you can see how the same concepts were tweaked based on who was under center.

Typical look:

• Shotgun, three wide receivers, tight end attached.
• Inside zone read with the QB reading the defensive end.
• When they had a mobile quarterback, the keep read was a real threat.
• With less mobile QBs, they used more RPO throws off the same mesh.

This is a great example of how a staff can keep read option structure in the playbook but adjust how often the quarterback actually keeps the ball.

Baylor and Other Big 12 Spread Teams

Big 12 teams like Baylor (Art Briles era and beyond), Oklahoma, and others provide more examples include spread-to-run philosophies. They often:

• Spread the field with wide receiver splits near the sideline.
• Run inside zone read or outside zone read.
• Force defenses to decide: load the box to stop the run or widen out to cover receivers.

These offenses are strong examples of read option offense examples in football where the goal is to run first, but the threat of the pass keeps boxes light. That’s especially obvious when you see safeties creeping down and immediately getting hit with deep shots.

Hybrid and Advanced Read Option Variations

By 2024–2025, the pure zone read is only one flavor among many. Some of the best examples of read option offense now mix in:

Split Zone Read

In split zone read, the line blocks zone one way, while a tight end or H-back comes across the formation to block the backside edge. The twist:

• Sometimes that tight end doesn’t block the edge. He runs into the flat instead.
• The quarterback reads the edge defender and/or the flat defender.
• If the edge crashes, the QB pulls and either runs or throws the quick flat route.

Teams like the 49ers with Brock Purdy and previously with Trey Lance have used versions of this, combining Shanahan’s wide zone DNA with read elements. It’s a subtle but powerful example of how read option ideas can live inside what looks like a traditional pro-style system.

Inverted Veer / Power Read

The inverted veer flips the usual roles:

• The quarterback attacks downhill like a power back.
• The running back becomes the horizontal option, running toward the perimeter.
• The QB reads a play-side defender and either keeps inside or pitches/gives outside.

Auburn with Cam Newton and early Urban Meyer offenses with Tim Tebow are classic examples include of this concept. It’s still used today in short-yardage and red zone situations across college football because it lets your quarterback run behind pulling linemen like a tailback.

How Defenses Respond to Read Option Offense Examples in Football

To really understand examples of read option offense examples in football, it helps to see what defenses are trying to do in response.

Common defensive strategies:

• Scrape exchange: The defensive end crashes on the running back while a linebacker loops outside to take the quarterback. This tries to “swap” responsibilities without changing the front.
• Slow-play technique: The read defender doesn’t commit hard either way, forcing the quarterback to hold the ball longer and letting pursuit catch up.
• Bear or odd fronts: Packing the line with big bodies to muddy the read and squeeze interior gaps.

Modern offenses answer by adding tags:

• Bubble screens
• Slants and glance routes
• Tight end flats

So now, instead of just reading a defensive end, the quarterback might also be reading a linebacker or safety for a quick throw. That’s where read option and RPO start to blend.

If you’re interested in the physical demands that option offenses place on players—especially quarterbacks who run more—the National Institutes of Health has research on football injuries and workload that can give you context on risk and conditioning: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Youth and High School Examples of Read Option Offense

You don’t need an NFL roster to run this stuff. Some of the most instructive examples of read option offense examples in football come from high school and youth games, where coaches simplify the reads but keep the core idea.

A typical high school version:

• Shotgun, two receivers, a tight end, and a running back.
• Inside zone read with a very clear rule: if the end crashes, keep; if he stays wide, give.
• Only one read, no extra tags, no fancy motions.

Coaches often teach it with a “slow mesh,” letting the quarterback ride the running back longer to truly see the defender’s movement. It’s a great teaching example of how to build confidence in young quarterbacks.

For coaches working with youth players, USA Football offers guidelines on safe contact, practice structure, and skill development that pair well with installing option concepts in a responsible way: https://usafootball.com.

How to Spot Read Option Offense in Real Time

When you’re watching a game and trying to find examples of read option offense examples in football, look for three simple clues:

• The quarterback and running back meet in the backfield for a mesh, usually in shotgun or pistol.
• An edge defender (defensive end or outside linebacker) is left unblocked on purpose.
• The quarterback’s eyes are on that defender while he decides whether to give or keep.

If you see those three things, you’re almost certainly looking at a read option or a close cousin like an RPO. From there, you can start to recognize different flavors: inside zone read, power read, split zone read, and so on.

Over time, you’ll notice that the best examples of read option offense are the ones that:

• Protect the quarterback from constant hits.
• Pair runs with simple, high-percentage throws.
• Use motion and formation to stress the same defenders over and over.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it—and that’s when watching football becomes a lot more fun.

FAQ: Read Option Offense Examples in Football

Q: What are some famous examples of read option offense examples in football at the NFL level?
Some of the most talked-about examples include the 2012 Washington offense with Robert Griffin III, the 2019 Baltimore Ravens with Lamar Jackson, and the 2022–2023 Philadelphia Eagles with Jalen Hurts. All three built significant portions of their run game around the quarterback reading an unblocked defender.

Q: Can you give an example of a simple read option play for high school teams?
A basic example of read option offense at the high school level is shotgun inside zone read. The line blocks inside zone, the quarterback reads the defensive end, and the rule is: if the end crashes toward the running back, the quarterback keeps; if the end stays wide, the quarterback hands off.

Q: Are RPOs the same as read option?
Not exactly. In a traditional read option, the quarterback decides between giving the ball to the running back or keeping it himself to run. In an RPO, the quarterback is usually deciding between a run and a pass. Many modern offenses blend the two, so you’ll see plays where the quarterback can give, keep, or throw—all built off the same backfield action.

Q: Do you need a fast quarterback to run a read option offense?
Speed helps, but it’s not mandatory. Some of the best examples of read option offense use quarterbacks who are more “effective runners” than pure sprinters. What matters is decision-making, ball handling, and enough mobility to be a real threat if the defense ignores the quarterback.

Q: Is the read option safe for younger players?
It can be, if managed wisely. Coaches should limit designed quarterback runs, teach proper contact technique, and make sure QBs know when to slide or get out of bounds. For broader safety guidance in youth sports, you can review resources from the CDC on concussion and injury prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/headsup.