"sudden overwhelming attack," 1940, shortening of blitzkrieg (q.v.). The use in U.S. football is from 1959. As a verb, 1940, from the noun. Related: Blitzed; blitzing.
Entries linking to blitz
blitzkrieg n.
"rapid attack," 1939, from German Blitzkrieg, from Krieg "war" (see kriegspiel) + Blitz "lightning," from Middle High German blicze, back-formation from bliczen "to flash," from Old High German blecchazzen "to flash, lighten" (8c.), from Proto-Germanic *blikkatjan, from PIE root *bhel- (1) "to shine, flash, burn."