Football is an ever-evolving chess match between offense and defense. With the evolution of passing offenses came beefed up pass-rush specialty defenses. Offenses had to adapt, and one play in particular began to separate as a devastating counter to aggressive defensive fronts: the running back screen.
It didn't take too long after Notre Dame revolutionized the forward passing game against Army in 1913 for delayed draws and screens to become part of the offense's arsenal. Head coach Ray Flaherty is credited with first introducing the running back screen in the 1937 NFL title game for Washington against Chicago.