Definition
To lead or coordinate a project, borrowing from football despite most office workers never having touched a football. The person who gets credit when things work and blamed when they don't.
Example Usage
Can you quarterback the vendor selection process? We need someone to coordinate all these people who won't coordinate themselves.
Origin
American football terminology adopted by business in the 1970s
Fun Fact
Unlike actual quarterbacks, corporate quarterbacks rarely get multi-million dollar contracts or sneaker deals.
Source: Project management terminology
Related Terms
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See “Quarterback” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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