Monday morning quarterback a person who is wise after the event. North American
☞ In American football, a quarterback is the player stationed behind the centre who directs the team's attacking play. In North American English the word has also developed the sense of 'a person who directs or coordinates an operation or project'. A Monday morning quarterback is someone who passes judgement on something or criticizes it when it is too late for their comments to be of any use, since the particular game or project in question has finished or been completed.