Screen passes have increasingly become one of the NFL’s favorite offensive tools. Often viewed as an extension of the run game, screens allow offenses to manufacture easy touches, slow down aggressive pass rushes and create opportunities for their best playmakers in space.
League-wide screen-pass volume rose for much of the past decade, climbing from 1,660 attempts in 2016 to a high of 2,252 in 2023. Usage edged down in 2024 (2,209 attempts) before falling sharply in 2025 to 1,881 — the largest single-year drop in this span and the lowest league total since 2018.
NFL screen pass attempts, 2016-2025
Regular season and postseason
Screen passes 20161,660 20171,850 20181,981 20191,928 20201,918 20212,158 20222,127 20232,252 20242,209 20251,881The Denver Broncos called a league-leading 111 screen passes last season, while the Houston Texans called just 38. Each offensive playcaller’s philosophy differs, but few coaches have built a stronger attachment to screen concepts than Mike McDaniel.
Over the past two seasons in Miami, McDaniel’s Dolphins led the NFL in screen rate. In 2025, 20.3% of Miami’s pass attempts were screens, leading the league for the second consecutive season.