NFL Positions 101 - WHO DOES WHAT
NFL Positions 101 - WHO DOES WHAT
Understanding NFL Positions
Ever wondered what all those guys on the football field are doing? This page is here to help! We’ll tell you about the different jobs players have on a football team. From the quarterback who throws the ball, to the big guys who try to stop him, we’ll explain what each position does and why they’re important.
QUARTERBACK (QB)
Basic Explanation – Quarterback (QB): The player who throws the ball to receivers or hands it off to the running back.
More Advanced – Quarterback (QB): The quarterback is the leader of the offense, responsible for passing the ball, handing it off to running backs, and directing the play based on the defence.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Players: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Mac Jones #10
placekicker (K)
A placekicker is the player who kicks field goals and extra points. They also handle kickoffs. Their job is to score points by kicking the ball through the goalposts.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Player: #39 Cam Little
Running Back (RB):
Basic explanation: The player who runs with the ball after getting a handoff from the quarterback.
More Advanced: The player who runs with the ball after getting a handoff from the quarterback. They may also catch a pass from the quarterback. They attempt to evade tackles to ultimately score a Touchdown.
Jacksonville Jaguars highlighted running backs: Travis Etienne #1 and Tank Bigsby #4
Tight End (TE)
A tight end is a player who lines up next to the offensive line. They block defenders to help the running game and catch passes. They are a mix of a blocker and a receiver.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Player – Evan Engram #17 and #85 Brenton Strange.
Pictured – Ben Koyack (Jaguars Legend: 2015 – 2019 ) at the Jaguars UK x BAFA: Tight End Elite Series Clinic .
Wide Receiver (WR)
Basic explanation: The player who runs to catch passes from the quarterback.
More Advanced: The wide receiver runs routes to catch passes from the quarterback. They are fast and need good hand-eye coordination to make catches and gain yards.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Players: Brian Thomas Jr #7 and Christian Kirk #13
Cornerback (CB)
A cornerback is a defensive player who primarily covers wide receivers. Their main job is to prevent the receiver from catching passes by staying close and using techniques like blocking the ball or intercepting it. They can be seen typically running backwards at high speeds!
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Players: Tyson Campbell #3 and Jarrian Jones #22
Safety (S)
Basic Explanation: A safety is a player who stays farthest back on defence. They help stop long passes and make tackles if the ball carrier breaks through other defenders. There are two types of safety: one focuses more on covering the deep passes, and the other helps with stopping the run closer to the line.
More Advanced: Safeties are the last line of defence in the secondary. They help protect against long passes and are often responsible for covering deep routes. There are two types of safeties: free safety, who typically roams the field looking to intercept passes, and strong safety, who plays closer to the line of scrimmage and helps against the run.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Players: Andre Cisco #5 and Andrew Wingard #42
Defensive Line (DL)
The defensive line is made up of players who line up against the offensive line to stop the run and pressure the quarterback. They try to sack the quarterback or tackle the running back behind the line of scrimmage. The line includes defensive tackles and defensive ends.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlighted Players: Josh Hines-Allen #41 and Travon Walker #44
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