Motion Commotion: How Pre-Snap Motion is Shaping NFL Offenses in 2025

The 2025 NFL season is underway, and one thing is clear: offenses are evolving. After a 2024 season where defenses seemed to have the upper hand, offenses are fighting back with a renewed emphasis on pre-snap motion. This isn’t just window dressing; it’s a strategic shift that’s reshaping how teams attack and how defenses react. In Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys showcased this trend, using pre-snap motion on a staggering 42% of their offensive plays against the Philadelphia Eagles, a significant jump from their 29th-place finish in the league last season.

The Why Behind the Movement

Why the increased reliance on pre-snap motion? The answer lies in the ever-evolving chess match between offensive and defensive coordinators. Defenses have become increasingly adept at disguising their coverages and blitz packages, often changing their looks after the snap. Pre-snap motion allows offenses to gain valuable information about the defensive alignment before the play even begins.

As Jacksonville Jaguars’ John Shipley noted, pre-snap motion helps quarterbacks determine if a defense is in man or zone coverage, allowing them to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. This is crucial for young quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, who can use this information to make quicker, more informed decisions.

Furthermore, motion can create confusion and misdirection, forcing defenders to hesitate or make mistakes. This is particularly effective against aggressive, fast, and undisciplined linebackers, as noted in a recent analysis of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense. By using pre-snap motion and misdirection, offenses can create opportunities for wide runs and play-action passes.

The Motion Offense: A Modern Marvel

The beauty of pre-snap motion is its versatility. It can be used to:

Identify Coverages: As mentioned earlier, motion can reveal whether a defense is playing man or zone coverage.
Create Favorable Matchups: By moving players around, offenses can force defenses to adjust, potentially creating mismatches in the passing game.
Influence Blocking Schemes: Motion can dictate how defenders align, allowing offensive lines to adjust their blocking assignments accordingly.
Exploit Defensive Tendencies: Smart offensive coordinators study film to identify defensive tendencies and use motion to exploit them.

Teams Leading the Charge

Several teams have embraced pre-snap motion as a key component of their offensive strategy in 2025:

Kansas City Chiefs: Despite their reputation for explosive plays, the Chiefs utilize pre-snap motion at the highest rate in the league. This allows Patrick Mahomes to gather as much information as possible before the snap, enabling him to make quick decisions and exploit defensive weaknesses.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins use pre-snap motion with remarkable effectiveness to create space for their dynamic receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. By forcing cornerbacks to constantly adjust their alignment, the Dolphins make it difficult for them to press and disrupt the receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Jacksonville Jaguars: With the arrival of Liam Coen as offensive coordinator, the Jaguars have made a concerted effort to incorporate more pre-snap motion into their offense. In Week 1, they used pre-snap shift/motion on 63% of their plays, a significant increase from their 42% usage in 2024.
Dallas Cowboys: Under the guidance of Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys have dramatically increased their use of pre-snap motion. This has helped to create more opportunities for their running game and passing attack.

The Counter-Punch: How Defenses are Adjusting

Of course, defenses aren’t simply standing by and watching offenses run wild with pre-snap motion. They are adapting in several ways:

Coverage Disguises: Defenses are becoming increasingly sophisticated at disguising their coverages before the snap, making it more difficult for quarterbacks to read them.
Late Rotations: Some defenses are using late rotations to change their coverage at the last second, hoping to confuse the quarterback and force him into a mistake.
Versatile Personnel: Defenses are prioritizing players who can play multiple positions, allowing them to adjust their alignments and coverages on the fly.
Pattern-Matching Coverages: Some teams are experimenting with pattern-match quarters concepts that provide more flexibility against bunch formations and pick plays.

The Patriots’ Conundrum

Not every team has jumped on the pre-snap motion bandwagon. The New England Patriots, for example, ranked dead last in the league in motion at the snap in 2024, using it on just 8% of their plays. According to Next Gen Stats, the Patriots ranked last in the NFL with a motion rate of 18.5%. While offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels acknowledges the potential benefits of motion, he also cautions that it can be risky if not executed properly.

After an opening week loss where the Patriots’ offense struggled, quarterback Drake Maye and McDaniels are looking for ways to improve. One area of focus is the running game, which Maye believes is critical to the offense’s success. McDaniels also shared his philosophy on using pre-snap motion to deceive opposing defenses. “Using [motion], it’s fun. It can be something that, if you’re not careful, can hurt you. It will certainly change what you’re looking at over there on the defensive side.”

Looking Ahead

As the 2025 season progresses, it will be fascinating to see how the motion commotion continues to evolve. Will defenses find new ways to counter the trend? Will more teams embrace pre-snap motion as a core component of their offensive strategy? One thing is certain: the game is constantly changing, and the teams that adapt the quickest will be the ones that ultimately succeed.