Ashton Jeanty’s “Michael Myers” stance is going viral after he re-adopted it in Week 4 of the NFL season. It’s something he developed in college and is now refusing to drop. Instead of crouching in the usual bent-knee position, Jeanty stands tall, arms at his sides, motionless before the snap. It looks more like a horror movie still than a football stance, which is how it got its name.
Ashton Jeanty’s “Michael Myers” Stance Explained
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Jeanty says he first used it around his junior year in college football and kept it because it felt natural. In his words:
“Coaches will always tell you to be kind of in more of the bent stance, but I just feel more comfortable that way, more relaxed, and then just reading the defense. That’s just what I do.”
Jeanty believes the upright position keeps him loose and focused. While unconventional, he says it allows him to read the defense instead of reacting blindly. And judging by the results, he might be onto something.
Jeanty Switched His Stance in Week 4
To start the NFL season, the Raiders’ coaches asked Jeanty to use a traditional stance. Through three games, his numbers dipped and the running game stalled. Then in Week 4, he went back to his “Michael Myers” stance, and everything flipped.
| Rushing Yards | TDs | Yards per Carry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–3 (Before) | 144 | 1 | 3.1 |
| Weeks 4–6 (After Switch) | 280 | 4 | 4.8 |
In his first game back with the stance, Jeanty exploded for 138 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. His per-carry average has jumped from 3.1 to 4.8, and he looks noticeably quicker hitting lanes.
Why The “Michael Myers” Stance Works for Jeanty
Jeanty’s version of the stance gives him balance and a clean read of the defense. He says it helps him:
- See defensive fronts clearly
- Stay relaxed pre-snap
- React faster to blitzes or motion
Raiders coaches, including Pete Carroll, have since leaned into it. Carroll called it “different but effective,” while teammates joke that his still, upright pose “spooks defenders,” which is fitting for a move named after a slasher.
Can It Last?
The stance breaks football convention. Staying tall limits leverage and can invite hits early. But Jeanty’s strength and vision offset those risks. As long as he’s producing, few will question his technique.
He summed it up best:
“A lot of times when something’s different, people think it can’t work that way. But it works, so no need to change it.”
If his “Michael Myers” stance keeps carving up defenses the way it has since Week 4, it might go down as one of the NFL’s strangest, and most successful, style choices.
