A chip block in football is a quick, lightweight block where a ball carrier or tight end briefly contacts a pass rusher to slow their momentum, giving the quarterback or the ball carrier a fraction more time to execute a play. After delivering the chip, the blocker then releases to continue with their assignment, such as running a route or sealing on the edge. It’s commonly used to disrupt a defender’s timing without committing to a full block, making it a deceptive and low-risk way to buy a moment for the pass rush to unfold.