Football play-calling terminology is famously nonsensical, with seemingly random combinations of words adding up to a code meaningful only to a select few.
Most of the time, the general public doesn't get to hear the lingo, but audibles are the exception. On-field microphones often catch the word or two quarterbacks yell out to change a play at the line of scrimmage.
Sunday saw a new entry into the canon, courtesy of Josh Allen and the Bills, and as usual it left those who heard it wondering what it meant — including its namesake, NBA legend LeBron James.
Here's what to know about the newest football mystery:
Josh Allen 'LeBron James' audible
Allen and the Bills were driving late in the second quarter, trailing the Jaguars 11-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Facing a second and 3 from Jacksonville's 25-yard line and the clock ticking under 1:35 to play, Allen yelled out a last-second call to his teammates: "LeBron James! LeBron James!"
Bills hit the "LEBRON JAMES" audible 😂 @KingJames
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/xh7kO4Xp5J
The play that followed was hardly worth of its namesake, as Allen unloaded the ball in a hurry for an incompletion while under pressure from Travon Walker.
The Bills QB would connect on his next two attempts, though, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs that finally got Buffalo on the board before halftime.
Nonetheless, Allen's audible call was so clearly, well, audible on the NFL Network broadcast that everyone was wondering exactly what the play was supposed to be, right down to the man himself.
I wonder what that "LeBron James" audible Josh Allen yelled out meant 🤔 . LOL 😂
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 8, 2023
We'll see if the Bills decide to use that call again and have time to give everyone a look at what they're actually trying to do on the play.
In the meantime, consider "LeBron James" the latest play-calling non-sequitur in a long tradition. It has a ways to go before it gets to "Omaha" territory, though.