American football is a sport known for all its complexity on the pitch, leaving those who are just starting to follow the sport a little confused by everything that’s going on. If you’re one of those people, you’ve come to the right place!
To help you better understand how the sport works, we’ve created a list of the American football positions, giving you a little insight into what happens on the pitch with the players.
Looking at the positions we’ve listed here in this article, you might even recognize some names, such as the quarterback, who is nothing less than the most important player on the field during a match.
However, you’ll also discover what the wide receivers, running backs, tight ends and other American soccer positions do. Each of these players has their importance, standing out when it comes to attacking, defending, passing the ball and protecting the quarterback.
If you like the sport and are just starting to get involved in this very popular sport, especially in North America, it’s time to break down all the positions of American football. Check it out!
Participate in our free Whatsapp community and receive daily tips, news and trivia on more than 50 sports! Click here to join.
All the american football positions: complete list
Check out the positions you’ll learn about in this list of all the positions in American soccer!
- Quarterback (QB);
- Wide Receiver (WR);
- Running Back (RB);
- Offensive Linemen (OL);
- Tight End (TE);
- Defensive End (DE);
- Linebackers (LB);
- Cornerbacks (CB);
- Safeties (S);
- Kicker (K) e Punter (P).
All the american football positions: understand the objectives of each one
Now, let’s explore the positions in American soccer, explaining their tasks on the pitch.
Quarterback (QB)
The quarterback is the team’s offensive leader, responsible for receiving the snap (the initial pass), catching the opposing team’s defense, deciding which teammate to pass the ball to or whether to run with it. It’s the most important position in the game, so it requires a lot of strategy.
Wide Receiver (WR)
Wide receivers are also important, as they are the players responsible for running down the field and catching passes from the quarterback. Athletes in this position need to be fast and very agile to be able to catch the ball even in pressure situations.
Running Back (RB)
Running backs are basically the team’s runners. Their mission is to carry the ball while running, but they can also receive short passes from the quarterback. Their main function is to gain ground yards while advancing through the opposing team’s defense.
Offensive Linemen (OL)
American soccer players who play offensive linemen are responsible for protecting the quarterback and opening up space for the running backs. Within this position, there are also centers, tackles and guards.
Center: is the player who devises the offensive line’s strategies, analyzing the defense;
Tackle: tackle players are those who protect the side where the quarterback’s back is turned;
Guard: the guard has the mission of preventing the opposing team from taking down the quarterback.
Tight End (TE)
Tight ends are players who result from the combination of wide receivers and offensive linemen. As such, they block to protect the quarterback on pass plays, but can also run and receive the ball.
These athletes are versatile American footballers and can play a variety of roles in the team.
Defensive End (DE)
The defensive end (DE) position in American soccer is essential to a team’s defense. Basically, they are players on the defensive line who usually stand on the edges of the formation, next to the opposing team’s offensive tackles.
Linebackers (LB)
Players who play the linebacker position need to be versatile, as they have responsibilities on defense, both in the ground game and in the air.
As such, they can try to put pressure on the quarterback, cover passes and try to stop opposing runners from advancing. They can position themselves in the central part of the field or on the sidelines.
Cornerbacks (CB)
Cornerbacks are the players responsible for marking the opposing team’s wide receivers and preventing them from catching passes.
So they need to have speed to spare, as well as agility and excellent coverage skills to defend passes thrown by the opposing team’s quarterback.
Safeties (S)
Safeties sit on the last line of the team’s defense and are responsible for helping with pass coverage as well as stopping runs that get past the defensive line and linebackers. There are two main types of safeties: free safety and strong safety.
Free Safety: needs to be faster and stay in the back of the field;
Strong Safety: protect the stronger side of the opposing team.
Kicker (K) e Punter (P)
The players in these positions have different tasks, but they complement each other. While the kicker is the athlete responsible for kicking field goals (kicks between the posts) and extra points (after touchdowns), the punter must kick punts (dump kicks) to change the field position in favor of the defense.
Both roles require players with strong kicking and accuracy skills, as well as being important athletes within the American soccer positions.
All the american football positions: complete list
- Quarterback (QB);
- Wide Receiver (WR);
- Running Back (RB);
- Offensive Linemen (OL);
- Tight End (TE);
- Defensive End (DE);
- Linebackers (LB);
- Cornerbacks (CB);
- Safeties (S);
- Kicker (K) e Punter (P).
That was the list of all the american football positions! We’ve created this guide to help you get to know the sport and how it works. Now that you’ve learned more about the sport, it’s time to learn more!
Keep exploring the site for the best news, lists, guides, glossaries and much more about American soccer and other sports. Don’t forget to leave a comment below telling us what else you’d like to see here!
