A subplot is a secondary plot strand that is a supporting side story for any story or the main plot. Subplots may connect to main plots, in either time and place or in thematic significance. Subplots often involve supporting characters, those besides the protagonist or antagonist.

In William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part II, the main plot concerns Henry's growth from "Hal" the prince to "Henry" the king and the reconquest of French territory. A subplot, however, concerns Falstaff's participation in the battles. Falstaff and Henry meet at several points, and Falstaff is a familiar of Henry's, but his plot and Henry's do not mix. Even though they may be thematically connected, they are not connected in action.

Subplots are distinguished from the main plot by taking up less of the action, having less significant events occur, with less impact on the 'world' of the work, and occurring to less important characters. When, as in Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Cancer Ward, about a group of patients at that ward, no one character's story clearly predominates, the plots will not be distinguished into the main plot and subplots. Because of their brevity, short stories and to a large extent, novellas, usually contain no subplot.

Aqib Talib (born February 13, 1986) is an American football cornerback who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Talib was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas and lettered in football, basketball, and track. In football, as a senior, he was named the Berkner High School's Defensive Back of the Year while garnering first-team all-district and first-team all-city honors. As a college football prospect during his senior year, he was rated 2 stars by Rivals.com. He was recruited by Kansas, Kansas State, Wyoming, Tulsa, Arizona, and Baylor. He chose to sign a National Letter of Intent to play for Kansas.

After redshirting in his first year at Kansas, Talib contributed substantially to a strong Jayhawk defense. Playing alongside future NFL cornerback Charles Gordon, Talib played in 11 games, starting nine. He recorded two interceptions and led the team by breaking up eight passes. He helped Kansas achieve a 7–5 record, including a 42–13 victory against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl. For his efforts, Talib was named all-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the conference coaches, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a freshman all-American by Rivals.com.