Football Positions

The following are the football positions for the American version of the game. Remember that there are no limits for player substitutions. This means the situation during the game will change constantly. The positions are divided between the offensive and defensive teams.

Offensive Team Positions

The center puts the ball into play with the snap. They also do blocking like linemen. They are often assigned the role of team captain. The offensive guards are two linemen set on the inside and center lines. Their role is to block passing and running. The offensive tackle is tasked to stop passing and running plays.

The tight ends are on the sides of the tackles. They can receive a pass or become a blocker. The wide receivers are assigned the role of catching passes. Throughout the game they try to get free to get the pass. The pullback is set behind the center line. Pullbacks can block, do some short receiving and perform some running too.

The running back holds the ball in majority of the running plays. Due to their role, they are often the quickest on the team along with the wide receivers. The quarterback on the other hand, gets the ball after the snap. The term is also used for the player that makes the signals for the upcoming play.

Defensive Football Positions

There are two defensive ends and they are positioned on the opposing corners of the defensive line. They will stop the passer or any offensive attack at the outer scrimmage line.

The defensive tackles are set between the defensive ends. Their job is to halt the passer and stop any running plays aimed at the centerline of the scrimmage.

The nose guard is directly opposite the center of the offense. Their role is to prevent any runs in the center. They are also assigned the role of sacking the quarterback.

The linebackers are assigned various tasks. These include rushing at the passer, stopping a run, and going after receivers. There are three kinds of linebackers; the middle, strongside and weakside linebacker.

Teams also have two cornerbacks. Their task is to go after the wide receivers. Their goal is to prevent the quarterback pass from getting to the receiver.

The safeties on the other hand, are the final lines of defense. Their goal is to stop deep passes from connecting. There are two safeties, the free safety and the strong safety. The defensive back is not an actual position. It refers to any position behind the line.

Special Teams

These players are on the field during special plays. The kicker manages the kickoff and field goals; the holder holds the football so the placekicker can kick it. The long snapper kicks the ball to the punter, and the punter kick punts. The punt returner will return the punt.

The American football positions described here shows how varied and complex the game is. Depending on the game situation, coaches may ask the players to do other tasks. The positions explained here apply not just to the NFL, but also to other leagues that use American football rules.