Editing Linebacker

{{Short description|Defensive position in American football}}
{{About|the position in American and Canadian football}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
[[File:Chicago_Bears_vs_Green_Bay_Packers_4.jpg|thumb|In white jerseys, [[Lance Briggs]] (#55) and [[Brian Urlacher]] (#54) of the [[Chicago Bears]], are positioned as linebackers on [[Lambeau Field]] in 2011]]
'''Linebacker''' ('''LB''') is a playing position in [[gridiron football]]. Linebackers are members of the [[defensive team]], and typically line up three to five yards behind the [[line of scrimmage]] and so back up the [[defensive linemen]]. They play closer to the line of scrimmage than the [[defensive backs]] (secondary).

As such, linebackers play a hybrid role and are often the most versatile players on the defensive side of the ball; they can be asked to play roles similar to either a defensive lineman (such as stopping the runner on a running play) or a defensive back (such as dropping back into pass coverage). How linebackers play their positions depends on the defensive alignment, the philosophy of the coaching staff, and the particular play the offense may call.

Linebackers are divided into middle linebackers, sometimes called inside linebackers, and outside linebackers. The middle linebacker is frequently the "[[quarterback]] of the defense". His central role on the field means he is in the best position to call defensive plays and direct shifts and changes based on what the offense is doing. Outside linebackers are often in a position to [[Blitz (gridiron football)|blitz]], a defensive maneuver where the player rushes into the offensive backfield to disrupt a running play or [[Quarterback sack|sack]] the quarterback on passing plays. 

Historically, some of the most impactful defensive players, such as [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] members [[Chuck Bednarik]], [[Dick Butkus]], [[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]], [[Ray Lewis]], [[Ray Nitschke]], [[Mike Singletary]], [[Brian Urlacher]], and [[Lawrence Taylor]], were linebackers.

==Formations==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}

The number of linebackers is dependent upon the [[Formation (American football)#List of Defensive formations|formation]] called for in the play; formations can call for as few as none, or as many as seven. Most defensive schemes call for three or four, which are generally named for the number of linemen, followed by the number of linebackers (with the [[46 defense]] being an exception). For example, the [[4–3 defense]] has four defensive linemen and three linebackers; conversely, the [[3–4 defense]] has three linemen and four linebackers.

===4–3 defense===
{{Main|4–3 defense}}
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}

In the 4–3 defense there are four down linemen and three linebackers. On pass plays, the linebackers' responsibilities vary based upon whether a man or zone coverage is called. In zone coverage, the linebackers will generally drop into {{clarify|text=hook zones|date=November 2022}} across the middle of the field. However, some zones will send the outside linebackers into the flats (area directly to the left and right of the hash marks, extending 4–5 yards downfield). In a man-to-man call, the "Sam" will often cover the tight end with help from a safety over the top, while at other times, the "Sam" and "Will" will be responsible for the first man out of the backfield on their side of the center, with the "Mike" covering if a second man exits on that side of the field.

In the "[[Tampa 2]]" zone defense, the middle linebacker is required to drop quickly into a deep middle zone pass coverage thus requiring a quick player at this position.

===3–4 defense===
{{Main|3–4 defense}}
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[[File:Linebacker34.svg|thumb|A base [[3–4 defense]]]]
In the 3–4 defense three linemen play the line of scrimmage and four linebackers back them up, typically two outside linebackers and two inside linebackers. 

The idea behind the 3–4 defense is to disguise where the fourth rusher will come from. Instead of the standard four down-linemen in the 4–3, only three players are clearly attacking nearly every play. The focus of the 3–4 defensive line is to occupy offensive linemen thus freeing the linebackers to tackle the running back or to rush the passer or otherwise drop into pass coverage.

The outside linebackers in a 3–4 defense line in front of the tackles like true defensive ends. The outside linebackers in a 3–4 defense must be very skilled at rushing the quarterback, and would be playing defensive end in a 4–3 defense. Among inside linebackers, one is generally a run-stuffer who is better able to handle offensive linemen and stop running backs, while the other is often a smaller, faster player who excels in pass coverage. However, the smaller or cover LB should also be able to scrape and plug running lanes decently.

The design concept of the 3–4 defense is to confuse the offensive line in their blocking assignments, particularly in pass blocking, and to create a more complex read for the quarterback. Many 3–4 defenses have the ability to quickly morph into a 4–3 on the field.

===46 defense===
{{main|46 defense}}
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In the 46 defense, there are four linemen, three linebackers and a safety who is moved up behind the line of scrimmage. Thus, it appears as if there are four linebackers, but it is really three linebackers with one safety playing up with the other linebackers.

Three of the defensive linemen are over both of the offensive guards and the center, thereby making it difficult to double-team any one of the three interior defensive linemen. This can also take away the ability of the offense to pull the guards on a running play, because this would leave one of the defenders unblocked, or, at best, give another lineman a very difficult block to make on one of the defenders. The safety, like the linebacker, can blitz, play man-on-man, play zone, or drop back into deep coverage like a normal safety would do. The 46 is used in heavy run situations to stop the run, when a team wants to apply much pressure, or merely to confuse the [[quarterback]] and offensive line.

===4–4 defense===
{{Main|4-4 defense}}
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}

This defense is effective at run-stopping but is weaker than a 4–3 defense at pass coverage because it uses only three defensive backs. This defensive scheme is often played with two inside line backers and two outside line backers. The names of the two inside line backers are often called Sam and Mike and these two are lined up about four yards from the line of scrimmage and are lined up with the offensive guard. The inside line backers are often more of a run player so they will defend the run before they will the pass. These line backers will be reading the offensive guard so they know what to do, so if the guard sets up to pass block the line backers know to get into their zone in order to cover the pass. If the guard come out for a run play they know that they need to fill the gap that they are supposed to so that they can make a play if it comes to them. Also, these inside line backers are often called on a blitz which is when no matter what the offense does, as soon as that ball is snapped they are shooting their gap and trying to get into the back field to make a play as fast as possible. Outside line backers sometimes are considered to be pass players before they are run players. But that depends on where they are lined up, if they are outside of the box of the defense then they will be pass first players, but if they play inside the box lined up behind the defensive end then they are typically a run player. One of the outside linebackers is usually called into either blitz or pass coverage to make up for the missing defensive back. In the NFL and college football, this alignment is used mainly in short yardage situations or near the goal line. It is commonly used in high school football.

==Types==
===Middle linebacker===
[[File:Football-Formation-LB.svg|thumb|A base [[4–3 defense]] with the middle linebacker in blue]]
<!-- linked from redirect [[Mike linebacker]] -->
The '''middle'''  linebacker ('''MLB'''), sometimes called the "Mike" or "Mac",<ref name="BostonGlobe">{{cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Ben |date=September 9, 2012 |title=How Sam, Mike and Will Became Football Positions |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/09/08/how-sam-mike-and-will-became-football-positions/URHq2XoAdviKJYZLQfbKNK/story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |location=[[Boston]]}}</ref> is often referred to as the "[[quarterback]] of the defense".<ref>{{cite web |author=JW Nix |date=August 30, 2011 |title=NFL Defensive Quarterbacks: The 10 Best Middle Linebackers in Football Today |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/826932-nfl-defensive-quarterbacks-the-10-best-middle-linebackers-in-football-today |access-date=October 5, 2013 |publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the team, and in the NFL he is usually the defensive player with the electronic sideline communicator.  Middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles.

A [[Jack of all trades, master of none|jack-of-all-trades]], the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz (though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker), cover, spy the [[quarterback]], or even have a deep middle-of-the-field responsibility in the [[Tampa 2]] defense.  

===Outside linebacker===
The '''outside linebacker''' ('''OLB''') is usually responsible for outside containment. This includes the strongside and weakside designations below. They are also responsible for blitzing the quarterback. They also have to perform pass coverage in the [[Flat (gridiron football)|flats]] – sometimes called a drop. Outside linebackers pass coverages covers quick [[Slant route|slants]] outside, [[Route (gridiron football)#Curl|curls]], and [[Route (gridiron football)#Flat|flat]] [[Route (gridiron football)|routes]]. 

====Strongside linebacker====
The strongside linebacker (SLB) is often nicknamed the "Sam" for purposes of calling a [[Blitz (gridiron football)|blitz]]. Since the strong side of the [[offensive team]] is the side on which the [[tight end]] lines up, or whichever side contains the most personnel, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end. Often the strongside linebacker will be called upon to tackle the [[running back]] on a play because the back will be following the tight end's block. He is most often the strongest linebacker; at the least he possesses the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a tight end or fullback blocking the backside of a pass play. The linebacker should also have strong [[Safety (American football position)|safety]] abilities in pass situation to cover the tight end in man on man situations. He should also have considerable quickness to read and get into coverage in zone situations.

====Weakside linebacker====
The weakside linebacker (WLB), or the "Will" in 4–3 defense must be the fastest of the three, because he is often the one called into pass coverage. He is also usually chasing the play from the backside, so the ability to maneuver through traffic is a necessity for the Will. The Will usually aligns off the [[line of scrimmage]] at the same depth as Mike. Because of his position on the weakside, the Will does not often have to face large interior linemen one on one unless one is pulling. In coverage, the Will often covers the back that attacks his side of the field first in man coverage, while covering the weak flat in Texas Loop or hooks/curl areas in zone coverage.

=== Inside linebacker ===
The terms ''middle'' and ''inside'' linebacker ('''ILB''') are often used interchangeably;<ref>{{cite book |last=Bradley |first=Michael |title=Football All-Stars: The Nfl's Best |date=2003 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |isbn=0823936902 |page=55}}</ref> they are also used to distinguish between a single middle linebacker playing in a [[4–3 defense#Linebackers|4–3 defense]], and two inside linebackers playing in a [[3–4 defense#Linebackers|3–4 defense]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Weisman |first=Larry |date=August 5, 2008 |title=Mayo leaning on 'old guys' to pick up Pats system on the fly |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2008-08-05-mayo_N.htm |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> In a 3–4 defense, the larger, more run-stopping-oriented linebacker is usually still called "Mike", while the smaller, more pass protection/route coverage-oriented player is called "Will".<ref name="May2021">{{cite web |last=May |first=Jeffrey |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Why is a linebacker called Mike? What does this mean? |url=https://en.as.com/en/2021/11/18/nfl/1637194760_140628.html |accessdate=January 23, 2023 |work=[[Diario AS]]}}</ref> "Mikes" usually line up towards the strong side or on the side the offense is more likely to run on (based on personnel matchups) while "Wills" may line up on the other side or even a little further back between the defensive line and the secondary.<ref name="May2021" />

=== Buck ===
In a 3–4 defense, the weakside linebacker sometimes plays a hybrid role as a pass rushing, defensive end who stands up. He is sometimes called the backside linebacker, or "Buck", as well as other names like Joker, Jack or Bandit.<ref name="BostonGlobe" /> A notable player in this role was [[Kevin Greene]].
==History==
[[Image:Germany Schulz.JPG|thumb|160px|The [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan]] is credited with creating the linebacker position, which was first played by [[Germany Schulz]]]]
Before the advent of the [[two-platoon system]] with separate units for offense and defense, the player who was the team's [[Center (American football)|center]] on offense was often, though not always, the team's linebacker on defense.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=1392 | title=Mel Hein (1954) - Hall of Fame }}</ref> Hence, in contemporary football, one usually sees four defensive linemen to the offense's five or more. Most sources claim coach [[Fielding H. Yost]] and center [[Germany Schulz#Innovations|Germany Schulz]] of the [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan Wolverines]] invented the position.<ref>''Big Ten Football, Its Life and Times, Great Coaches, Players, and Games'', page 193, Mervin D. Hyman, Gordon S. White, Macmillan, 1977, {{ISBN|0-02-558070-1}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2548264/the_newark_advocate/|title=First linebacker found|date=October 30, 1974|page=27|work=The Newark Advocate|access-date=June 4, 2015|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2548263/the_pantagraph/|title=More Trivia|date=September 10, 1967|page=28|work=The Pantagraph|access-date=June 4, 2015|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref>Dave Lewis, "Once Over Lightly," ''The Long Beach Independent'', July 29, 1954.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1242}}|title=Germany Schulz|website=footballfoundation.org}}</ref> Schulz was Yost's first linebacker in 1904 when he stood up from his usual position on the line. Yost was horrified at first, but came to see the wisdom in Schulz's innovation.<ref>Malcolm Bingay, "A Little About This and That: How Schulz Entered Michigan Still A Mystery," ''The Morning Herald'', May 1, 1951; "Frankly Speaking: Schulz' Great Grid Exploits Reviewed," ''The Long Beach Press-Telegram,'' April 17, 1951.</ref> [[William Thomas Dunn|William Dunn]] of [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] was another [[Big Ten Conference|Western Conference]] linebacker soon after Schulz.
However, there are various historical claims tied to the linebacker position, including some before 1904. For example, [[Percy Given]] of [[Georgetown Hoyas football|Georgetown]] is another center with a claim to the title "first linebacker," supposedly standing up behind the line well before Schulz in a game against [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]] in 1902.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ck3AAAAIAAJ&q=percy+given|page=128|year=1962|title=Football Immortals|author=Alexander M. Weyand}}</ref> The first linebacker in the [[American South|South]] was [[Frank Juhan]], who played at [[Sewanee Tigers football|Sewanee]] during 1908–1910.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Juhan |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1251}} |website=footballfoundation.org}}</ref>[[File:ChuckBednarik1952Bowman.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Chuck Bednarik]] of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]]]In the East, [[Ernest Cozens]] of [[Penn Quakers football|Penn]] was "one of the first of the roving centers,"<ref name="Obit">{{cite news|title=Ernest B. Cozens|work=Pennsylvania Gazette|page= 751|date=June 28, 1929|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CO8sAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> another archaic term for the position, supposedly coined by [[Hank Ketcham (American football)|Hank Ketcham]] of [[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry Ketcham |website=footballfoundation.org |url={{College Football HoF/url|id=1338}}}}</ref> [[Walter E. Bachman]] of [[Lafayette Leopards football|Lafayette]] was said to be "the developer of the 'roving center' concept".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goleopards.com/sports/maroonclub/mtt/bachman_walter00.html|title=Walter Bachman|access-date=May 28, 2015|archive-date=May 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528223910/http://www.goleopards.com/sports/maroonclub/mtt/bachman_walter00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Edgar Garbisch]] of [[Army Black Knights football|Army]] was credited with developing the "roving center method" of playing defensive football in 1921.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|title=Col. Edward Garbisch and His Wife, Bernice, Die|newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News|date=December 16, 1979|page=A1, A15|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1961&dat=19791216&id=JXItAAAAIBAJ&pg=1162,762173}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  

In professional football, [[Cal Hubbard]] is credited with pioneering the linebacker position. He starred as a [[defensive tackle|tackle]] and [[end (American football)|end]], playing off the line in a style similar to that of a modern linebacker.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ueY58Dlnn30C&pg=PA62|author=Richard Whittingham|title=What a Game They Played: An Inside Look at the Golden Era of Pro Football|date=January 2001|page=62|publisher=U of Nebraska Press |isbn=0803298196}}</ref> The [[New York Giants]]' [[John Alexander (linebacker)|John Alexander]] is considered the first person to have played outside linebacker in the NFL.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

The [[Chuck Bednarik Award]] is awarded annually by the [[Maxwell Football Club]] to the best defensive player in college football.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=March 21, 2015 |title=Chuck Bednarik, Eagles' Man of Concrete, Dies at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/sports/football/chuck-bednarik-famed-football-tough-guy-dies-at-89.html |work=New York Times}}</ref> [[Chuck Bednarik]] was selected with the [[List of first overall NFL draft picks|first overall pick]] of the [[1949 NFL draft]] by the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He is considered one of the hardest hitting and best linebackers in [[National Football League|NFL]] history. On November 20, 1960, Bednarik knocked [[1960 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] star halfback [[Frank Gifford]] unconscious with a tackle that was called "professional football's most notorious concussion". Bednarik's career-altering tackle of the Giants' star is remembered in football lore as "[[The Hit (Chuck Bednarik)|The Hit]]".<ref name="New York Times">{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Dave |date=November 11, 2010 |title=Chuck Bednarik's Hit on Frank Gifford Still Echoes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/sports/football/21anderson.html |work=New York Times}}</ref>
[[File:Nitschke_packers.jpg|thumb|160px|Ray Nitschke]]
[[Detroit Lions]] linebacker [[Joe Schmidt (American football)|Joe Schmidt]] was selected NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1960 and 1963. [[Ray Nitschke]] anchored the defense of [[Vince&nbsp;Lombardi]]'s [[Green Bay Packers]]. He played without his four front teeth. [[Kansas City Chiefs]] linebacker [[Bobby Bell]] was one of the first black outside linebackers in professional football.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Star |first=Vahe Gregorian The Kansas City |date=2021-09-10 |title=COLUMN {{!}} Chiefs great Bobby Bell a monument to change |url=https://themercury.com/townnews/building_industry/column-chiefs-great-bobby-bell-a-monument-to-change/article_71376e9d-7917-5d98-ac9c-80fca4bcdf3a.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Mercury |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Nate |date=July 21, 2021 |title=NFL 100: At No. 74, Bobby Bell blended rare athleticism, smarts as Chiefs' superstar linebacker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2710350/2021/07/21/nfl-100-at-no-74-bobby-bell-blended-rare-athleticism-smarts-as-chiefs-superstar-linebacker/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Modern Super Bowl era ===
On January 15, 1967, the Chiefs lost [[Super Bowl I]] to Vince Lombardi's [[Green Bay Packers]] by a 35–10 score, forcing [[head coach]] [[Hank Stram]] to look for defensive players in the upcoming draft. Stram picked [[Willie Lanier]]. 

[[Chicago Bears]] linebacker [[Dick Butkus]] is viewed as the "gold standard by which other middle linebackers are measured".<ref name="Davis">{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Nate |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Who is NFL's greatest player ever? NFL Network reveals No. 1 Thursday night |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2010/11/who-is-nfls-greatest-player-nfl-network-reveals-no-1-thursday-night/1 |access-date=July 25, 2017 |work=USA Today}}</ref> In 2009, the [[NFL Network]] named Butkus the most feared tackler of all time.  
[[File:Ray Lewis 2007.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Ray Lewis]]
[[Jack Lambert (American football)|Jack Lambert]] and [[Jack Ham]] played behind the [[Steel Curtain]] of the 1970s, and Lambert was recognized by the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1990 as "the greatest linebacker of his era." Colts and Raiders linebacker [[Ted Hendricks]] won 4 Super Bowls and in 2019 the ''NFL Football Journal'' named him the best punt and kick blocker of all time.

Bears linebacker [[Mike Singletary]] was known as "the Heart of the Defense" for their [[Monsters of the Midway]] defense in the mid-1980s. New York Giants linebacker [[Lawrence Taylor]] is almost universally regarded as the greatest defensive player of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mori |first=Dan |date=October 25, 2010 |title=NFL Power Rankings: Top 50 Greatest Defensive Players In NFL History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/492690-the-top-50-greatest-defensive-players-in-nfl-history |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

Baltimore Ravens linebacker [[Ray Lewis]] is considered one of the greatest linebackers of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karpovich |first=Todd |date=2022-08-04 |title=Ravens Ray Lewis Named Greatest Linebacker of All-Time |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/news/ravens-ray-lewis-greatest-lb |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=Sports Illustrated Baltimore Ravens News, Analysis and More |language=en}}</ref> Lewis has the most [[Pro Bowl]] selections by a linebacker with 13. With 12 is former Chargers linebacker [[Junior Seau]], and with 11 is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker [[Derrick Brooks]].

Bears linebacker [[Brian Urlacher]] led his team in sacks in 2000, and led his team in interceptions in 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/brian-urlacher/ | title=Brian Urlacher &#124; Pro Football Hall of Fame }}</ref> In 2013, Panthers linebacker [[Luke Kuechly]] became the youngest recipient of the [[AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award]] in its history.

==References==


{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*''Complete Book of Linebacker Play'', Joe Giampalmi, Parker Pub. Co., 1984, {{ISBN|0-13-157511-2}}
{{commons category}}
{{American football positions}}
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