CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="client-nojs vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available" lang="en" dir="ltr"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>Fullback (gridiron football) - Wikipedia</title> <script>(function(){var className="client-js vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-sticky-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-night-mode-enabled skin-theme-clientpref-day vector-toc-available";var cookie=document.cookie.match(/(?:^|; )enwikimwclientpreferences=([^;]+)/);if(cookie){cookie[1].split('%2C').forEach(function(pref){className=className.replace(new RegExp('(^| )'+pref.replace(/-clientpref-\w+$|[^\w-]+/g,'')+'-clientpref-\\w+( |$)'),'$1'+pref+'$2');});}document.documentElement.className=className;}());RLCONF={"wgBreakFrames":false,"wgSeparatorTransformTable":["",""],"wgDigitTransformTable":["",""],"wgDefaultDateFormat":"dmy", "wgMonthNames":["","January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"wgRequestId":"2c695aa7-a5e4-4d4f-bdc7-b81383724766","wgCanonicalNamespace":"","wgCanonicalSpecialPageName":false,"wgNamespaceNumber":0,"wgPageName":"Fullback_(gridiron_football)","wgTitle":"Fullback (gridiron football)","wgCurRevisionId":1258903318,"wgRevisionId":1258903318,"wgArticleId":10764950,"wgIsArticle":true,"wgIsRedirect":false,"wgAction":"view","wgUserName":null,"wgUserGroups":["*"],"wgCategories":["Articles with short description","Short description matches Wikidata","Articles needing additional references from February 2020","All articles needing additional references","American football positions"],"wgPageViewLanguage":"en","wgPageContentLanguage":"en","wgPageContentModel":"wikitext","wgRelevantPageName":"Fullback_(gridiron_football)","wgRelevantArticleId":10764950,"wgIsProbablyEditable":true,"wgRelevantPageIsProbablyEditable":true, "wgRestrictionEdit":[],"wgRestrictionMove":[],"wgRedirectedFrom":"Fullback_(American_football)","wgNoticeProject":"wikipedia","wgCiteReferencePreviewsActive":false,"wgFlaggedRevsParams":{"tags":{"status":{"levels":1}}},"wgMediaViewerOnClick":true,"wgMediaViewerEnabledByDefault":true,"wgPopupsFlags":0,"wgVisualEditor":{"pageLanguageCode":"en","pageLanguageDir":"ltr","pageVariantFallbacks":"en"},"wgMFDisplayWikibaseDescriptions":{"search":true,"watchlist":true,"tagline":false,"nearby":true},"wgWMESchemaEditAttemptStepOversample":false,"wgWMEPageLength":10000,"wgInternalRedirectTargetUrl":"/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)","wgRelatedArticlesCompat":[],"wgCentralAuthMobileDomain":false,"wgEditSubmitButtonLabelPublish":true,"wgULSPosition":"interlanguage","wgULSisCompactLinksEnabled":false,"wgVector2022LanguageInHeader":true,"wgULSisLanguageSelectorEmpty":false,"wgWikibaseItemId":"Q526960","wgCheckUserClientHintsHeadersJsApi":["brands","architecture","bitness","fullVersionList","mobile", "model","platform","platformVersion"],"GEHomepageSuggestedEditsEnableTopics":true,"wgGETopicsMatchModeEnabled":false,"wgGEStructuredTaskRejectionReasonTextInputEnabled":false,"wgGELevelingUpEnabledForUser":false};RLSTATE={"ext.globalCssJs.user.styles":"ready","site.styles":"ready","user.styles":"ready","ext.globalCssJs.user":"ready","user":"ready","user.options":"loading","ext.cite.styles":"ready","skins.vector.search.codex.styles":"ready","skins.vector.styles":"ready","skins.vector.icons":"ready","jquery.makeCollapsible.styles":"ready","ext.wikimediamessages.styles":"ready","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript":"ready","ext.uls.interlanguage":"ready","wikibase.client.init":"ready","ext.wikimediaBadges":"ready"};RLPAGEMODULES=["mediawiki.action.view.redirect","ext.cite.ux-enhancements","mediawiki.page.media","site","mediawiki.page.ready","jquery.makeCollapsible","mediawiki.toc","skins.vector.js","ext.centralNotice.geoIP","ext.centralNotice.startUp", "ext.gadget.ReferenceTooltips","ext.gadget.switcher","ext.urlShortener.toolbar","ext.centralauth.centralautologin","mmv.bootstrap","ext.popups","ext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.init","ext.visualEditor.targetLoader","ext.echo.centralauth","ext.eventLogging","ext.wikimediaEvents","ext.navigationTiming","ext.uls.interface","ext.cx.eventlogging.campaigns","ext.cx.uls.quick.actions","wikibase.client.vector-2022","ext.checkUser.clientHints","ext.growthExperiments.SuggestedEditSession","wikibase.sidebar.tracking"];</script> <script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.loader.impl(function(){return["user.options@12s5i",function($,jQuery,require,module){mw.user.tokens.set({"patrolToken":"+\\","watchToken":"+\\","csrfToken":"+\\"}); }];});});</script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=ext.cite.styles%7Cext.uls.interlanguage%7Cext.visualEditor.desktopArticleTarget.noscript%7Cext.wikimediaBadges%7Cext.wikimediamessages.styles%7Cjquery.makeCollapsible.styles%7Cskins.vector.icons%2Cstyles%7Cskins.vector.search.codex.styles%7Cwikibase.client.init&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <script async="" src="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=startup&only=scripts&raw=1&skin=vector-2022"></script> <meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content=""> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/w/load.php?lang=en&modules=site.styles&only=styles&skin=vector-2022"> <meta name="generator" content="MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.4"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin-when-cross-origin"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:standard"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/1200px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="800"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/800px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="800"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="533"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/640px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="640"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="427"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=1120"> <meta property="og:title" content="Fullback (gridiron football) - Wikipedia"> <meta property="og:type" content="website"> <link rel="preconnect" href="//upload.wikimedia.org"> <link rel="alternate" media="only screen and (max-width: 640px)" href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/x-wiki" title="Edit this page" href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png"> <link rel="icon" href="/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"> <link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" href="/w/rest.php/v1/search" title="Wikipedia (en)"> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=rsd"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)"> <link rel="license" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Wikipedia Atom feed" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//meta.wikimedia.org" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//login.wikimedia.org"> </head> <body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject mw-editable page-Fullback_gridiron_football rootpage-Fullback_gridiron_football skin-vector-2022 action-view"><a class="mw-jump-link" href="#bodyContent">Jump to content</a> <div class="vector-header-container"> <header class="vector-header mw-header"> <div class="vector-header-start"> <nav class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-main-menu-dropdown vector-button-flush-left vector-button-flush-right" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-main-menu-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Main menu" > <label id="vector-main-menu-dropdown-label" for="vector-main-menu-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-menu mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-menu"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Main menu</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-main-menu" class="vector-main-menu vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-main-menu-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="main-menu-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-main-menu" data-pinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-main-menu-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Main menu</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-main-menu.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-navigation" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-navigation" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Navigation </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-mainpage-description" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Main_Page" title="Visit the main page [z]" accesskey="z"><span>Main page</span></a></li><li id="n-contents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents" title="Guides to browsing Wikipedia"><span>Contents</span></a></li><li id="n-currentevents" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Portal:Current_events" title="Articles related to current events"><span>Current events</span></a></li><li id="n-randompage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:Random" title="Visit a randomly selected article [x]" accesskey="x"><span>Random article</span></a></li><li id="n-aboutsite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About" title="Learn about Wikipedia and how it works"><span>About Wikipedia</span></a></li><li id="n-contactpage" class="mw-list-item"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us" title="How to contact Wikipedia"><span>Contact us</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-interaction" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-interaction" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Contribute </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="n-help" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Contents" title="Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia"><span>Help</span></a></li><li id="n-introduction" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" title="Learn how to edit Wikipedia"><span>Learn to edit</span></a></li><li id="n-portal" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal" title="The hub for editors"><span>Community portal</span></a></li><li id="n-recentchanges" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChanges" title="A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]" accesskey="r"><span>Recent changes</span></a></li><li id="n-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard" title="Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia"><span>Upload file</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <a href="/wiki/Main_Page" class="mw-logo"> <img class="mw-logo-icon" src="/static/images/icons/wikipedia.png" alt="" aria-hidden="true" height="50" width="50"> <span class="mw-logo-container skin-invert"> <img class="mw-logo-wordmark" alt="Wikipedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en.svg" style="width: 7.5em; height: 1.125em;"> <img class="mw-logo-tagline" alt="The Free Encyclopedia" src="/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en.svg" width="117" height="13" style="width: 7.3125em; height: 0.8125em;"> </span> </a> </div> <div class="vector-header-end"> <div id="p-search" role="search" class="vector-search-box-vue vector-search-box-collapses vector-search-box-show-thumbnail vector-search-box-auto-expand-width vector-search-box"> <a href="/wiki/Special:Search" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only search-toggle" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-search mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-search"></span> <span>Search</span> </a> <div class="vector-typeahead-search-container"> <div class="cdx-typeahead-search cdx-typeahead-search--show-thumbnail cdx-typeahead-search--auto-expand-width"> <form action="/w/index.php" id="searchform" class="cdx-search-input cdx-search-input--has-end-button"> <div id="simpleSearch" class="cdx-search-input__input-wrapper" data-search-loc="header-moved"> <div class="cdx-text-input cdx-text-input--has-start-icon"> <input class="cdx-text-input__input" type="search" name="search" placeholder="Search Wikipedia" aria-label="Search Wikipedia" autocapitalize="sentences" title="Search Wikipedia [f]" accesskey="f" id="searchInput" > <span class="cdx-text-input__icon cdx-text-input__start-icon"></span> </div> <input type="hidden" name="title" value="Special:Search"> </div> <button class="cdx-button cdx-search-input__end-button">Search</button> </form> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-user-links vector-user-links-wide" aria-label="Personal tools"> <div class="vector-user-links-main"> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-preferences" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-userpage" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown " title="Change the appearance of the page's font size, width, and color" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-appearance-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Appearance" > <label id="vector-appearance-dropdown-label" for="vector-appearance-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-appearance mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-appearance"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Appearance</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-notifications" class="vector-menu mw-portlet emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-vector-user-menu-overflow" class="vector-menu mw-portlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en" class=""><span>Donate</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-createaccount-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Fullback+%28gridiron+football%29" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory" class=""><span>Create account</span></a> </li> <li id="pt-login-2" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item user-links-collapsible-item"><a data-mw="interface" href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Fullback+%28gridiron+football%29" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o" class=""><span>Log in</span></a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-user-menu vector-button-flush-right vector-user-menu-logged-out" title="Log in and more options" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-user-links-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Personal tools" > <label id="vector-user-links-dropdown-label" for="vector-user-links-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-ellipsis mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-ellipsis"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Personal tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-personal" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-personal user-links-collapsible-item" title="User menu" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-sitesupport" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="https://donate.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FundraiserRedirector?utm_source=donate&utm_medium=sidebar&utm_campaign=C13_en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en"><span>Donate</span></a></li><li id="pt-createaccount" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Fullback+%28gridiron+football%29" title="You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-userAdd mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-userAdd"></span> <span>Create account</span></a></li><li id="pt-login" class="user-links-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Fullback+%28gridiron+football%29" title="You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]" accesskey="o"><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-logIn mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-logIn"></span> <span>Log in</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-user-menu-anon-editor" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-user-menu-anon-editor" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Pages for logged out editors <a href="/wiki/Help:Introduction" aria-label="Learn more about editing"><span>learn more</span></a> </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="pt-anoncontribs" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyContributions" title="A list of edits made from this IP address [y]" accesskey="y"><span>Contributions</span></a></li><li id="pt-anontalk" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:MyTalk" title="Discussion about edits from this IP address [n]" accesskey="n"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> </div> <div class="mw-page-container"> <div class="mw-page-container-inner"> <div class="vector-sitenotice-container"> <div id="siteNotice"></div> </div> <div class="vector-column-start"> <div class="vector-main-menu-container"> <div id="mw-navigation"> <nav id="mw-panel" class="vector-main-menu-landmark" aria-label="Site"> <div id="vector-main-menu-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav id="mw-panel-toc" aria-label="Contents" data-event-name="ui.sidebar-toc" class="mw-table-of-contents-container vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-toc-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-toc" class="vector-toc vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-toc-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="toc-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-toc" > <h2 class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Contents</h2> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-History" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#History"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>History</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-History-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Characteristics" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Characteristics"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Characteristics</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Characteristics-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Characteristics subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Characteristics-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Runners" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Runners"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Runners</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Runners-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Blocking" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Blocking"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Blocking</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Blocking-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Substitutes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Substitutes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Substitutes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Substitutes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Canadian_football" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Canadian_football"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Canadian football</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Canadian_football-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Fullback (gridiron football)</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 10 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-10" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">10 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(f%C3%BAtbol_americano)" title="Fullback (fútbol americano) – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Fullback (fútbol americano)" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr badge-Q70893996 mw-list-item" title=""><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback" title="Fullback – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Fullback" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%92%80%EB%B0%B1_(%EB%AF%B8%EC%8B%9D%EC%B6%95%EA%B5%AC)" title="풀백 (미식축구) – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="풀백 (미식축구)" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(football_americano)" title="Fullback (football americano) – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Fullback (football americano)" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu mw-list-item"><a href="https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback" title="Fullback – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu" data-title="Fullback" data-language-autonym="Magyar" data-language-local-name="Hungarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Magyar</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(American_football)" title="Fullback (American football) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Fullback (American football)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback_(amerikansk_fotball)" title="Fullback (amerikansk fotball) – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Fullback (amerikansk fotball)" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback" title="Fullback – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Fullback" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullback" title="Fullback – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Fullback" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BA_(%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D1%84%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BB)" title="Фулбек (амерички фудбал) – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Фулбек (амерички фудбал)" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q526960#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-nstab-main" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)" title="View the content page [c]" accesskey="c"><span>Article</span></a></li><li id="ca-talk" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Talk:Fullback_(gridiron_football)" rel="discussion" title="Discuss improvements to the content page [t]" accesskey="t"><span>Talk</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown emptyPortlet" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-variants-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Change language variant" > <label id="vector-variants-dropdown-label" for="vector-variants-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">English</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="p-variants" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-variants emptyPortlet" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div id="right-navigation" class="vector-collapsible"> <nav aria-label="Views"> <div id="p-views" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-views" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-view" class="selected vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-edit" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-history" class="vector-tab-noicon mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=history" title="Past revisions of this page [h]" accesskey="h"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-tools-dropdown" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-tools-dropdown" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Tools" > <label id="vector-page-tools-dropdown-label" for="vector-page-tools-dropdown-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Tools</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> <div id="vector-page-tools" class="vector-page-tools vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-page-tools-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-unpinned" data-feature-name="page-tools-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-page-tools" data-pinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-page-tools-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Tools</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-page-tools.unpin">hide</button> </div> <div id="p-cactions" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-cactions emptyPortlet vector-has-collapsible-items" title="More options" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Actions </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="ca-more-view" class="selected vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)"><span>Read</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-edit" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit" title="Edit this page [e]" accesskey="e"><span>Edit</span></a></li><li id="ca-more-history" class="vector-more-collapsible-item mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=history"><span>View history</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-tb" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-tb" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> General </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-whatlinkshere" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Fullback_(gridiron_football)" title="List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]" accesskey="j"><span>What links here</span></a></li><li id="t-recentchangeslinked" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Fullback_(gridiron_football)" rel="nofollow" title="Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]" accesskey="k"><span>Related changes</span></a></li><li id="t-upload" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard" title="Upload files [u]" accesskey="u"><span>Upload file</span></a></li><li id="t-specialpages" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/wiki/Special:SpecialPages" title="A list of all special pages [q]" accesskey="q"><span>Special pages</span></a></li><li id="t-permalink" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&oldid=1258903318" title="Permanent link to this revision of this page"><span>Permanent link</span></a></li><li id="t-info" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=info" title="More information about this page"><span>Page information</span></a></li><li id="t-cite" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Fullback_%28gridiron_football%29&id=1258903318&wpFormIdentifier=titleform" title="Information on how to cite this page"><span>Cite this page</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFullback_%28gridiron_football%29"><span>Get shortened URL</span></a></li><li id="t-urlshortener-qrcode" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:QrCode&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFullback_%28gridiron_football%29"><span>Download QR code</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-coll-print_export" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-coll-print_export" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> Print/export </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="coll-download-as-rl" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Fullback_%28gridiron_football%29&action=show-download-screen" title="Download this page as a PDF file"><span>Download as PDF</span></a></li><li id="t-print" class="mw-list-item"><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&printable=yes" title="Printable version of this page [p]" accesskey="p"><span>Printable version</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="p-wikibase-otherprojects" class="vector-menu mw-portlet mw-portlet-wikibase-otherprojects" > <div class="vector-menu-heading"> In other projects </div> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li id="t-wikibase" class="wb-otherproject-link wb-otherproject-wikibase-dataitem mw-list-item"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q526960" title="Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]" accesskey="g"><span>Wikidata item</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-column-end"> <div class="vector-sticky-pinned-container"> <nav class="vector-page-tools-landmark" aria-label="Page tools"> <div id="vector-page-tools-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> </div> </nav> <nav class="vector-appearance-landmark" aria-label="Appearance"> <div id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" class="vector-pinned-container"> <div id="vector-appearance" class="vector-appearance vector-pinnable-element"> <div class="vector-pinnable-header vector-appearance-pinnable-header vector-pinnable-header-pinned" data-feature-name="appearance-pinned" data-pinnable-element-id="vector-appearance" data-pinned-container-id="vector-appearance-pinned-container" data-unpinned-container-id="vector-appearance-unpinned-container" > <div class="vector-pinnable-header-label">Appearance</div> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"><span class="mw-redirectedfrom">(Redirected from <a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(American_football)&redirect=no" class="mw-redirect" title="Fullback (American football)">Fullback (American football)</a>)</span></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Position in American or Canadian football</div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Tyler_Huntley.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/220px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="147" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/330px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Tyler_Huntley.jpg/440px-Tyler_Huntley.jpg 2x" data-file-width="8256" data-file-height="5504" /></a><figcaption>Fullback <a href="/wiki/Patrick_Ricard_(American_football)" title="Patrick Ricard (American football)">Patrick Ricard</a> (No. 42) of the <a href="/wiki/Baltimore_Ravens" title="Baltimore Ravens">Baltimore Ravens</a> lines up behind quarterback <a href="/wiki/Tyler_Huntley" title="Tyler Huntley">Tyler Huntley</a> during a 2021 preseason game.</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>fullback</b> (<b>FB</b>) is a position in the <a href="/wiki/Offense_(sports)" title="Offense (sports)">offensive</a> <a href="/wiki/Backfield" class="mw-redirect" title="Backfield">backfield</a> in <a href="/wiki/Gridiron_football" title="Gridiron football">gridiron football</a> and is one of the two <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a> positions along with the <a href="/wiki/Halfback_(American_football)" title="Halfback (American football)">halfback</a>. Fullbacks are typically larger than halfbacks, and, in most offensive schemes, the fullback's duties are split among power running, <a href="/wiki/Reception_(gridiron_football)" title="Reception (gridiron football)">pass catching</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Blocking_(American_football)" title="Blocking (American football)">blocking</a> for both the <a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">quarterback</a> and the other running back.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Many great <a href="/wiki/Rush_(gridiron_football)" title="Rush (gridiron football)">runners</a> in the history of American football have been fullbacks, including <a href="/wiki/Jim_Brown" title="Jim Brown">Jim Brown</a>, <a href="/wiki/Marion_Motley" title="Marion Motley">Marion Motley</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bronko_Nagurski" title="Bronko Nagurski">Bronko Nagurski</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jim_Taylor_(fullback)" title="Jim Taylor (fullback)">Jim Taylor</a>, <a href="/wiki/Franco_Harris" title="Franco Harris">Franco Harris</a>, <a href="/wiki/Larry_Csonka" title="Larry Csonka">Larry Csonka</a>, <a href="/wiki/John_Riggins" title="John Riggins">John Riggins</a>, <a href="/wiki/Christian_Okoye" title="Christian Okoye">Christian Okoye</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Levi_Jackson" title="Levi Jackson">Levi Jackson</a>. However, many of these runners would retroactively be labeled as halfbacks, due to their position as the primary <a href="/wiki/Carry_(gridiron_football)" title="Carry (gridiron football)">ball carrier</a>; they were primarily listed as fullbacks due to their size and did not often perform the run blocking duties expected of modern fullbacks. Examples of players who have excelled at the hybrid running–blocking–pass catching role include <a href="/wiki/Vonta_Leach" title="Vonta Leach">Vonta Leach</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mike_Alstott" title="Mike Alstott">Mike Alstott</a>, <a href="/wiki/William_Henderson_(American_football)" title="William Henderson (American football)">William Henderson</a>, <a href="/wiki/Daryl_Johnston" title="Daryl Johnston">Daryl Johnston</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kyle_Juszczyk" title="Kyle Juszczyk">Kyle Juszczyk</a>, <a href="/wiki/John_Kuhn" title="John Kuhn">John Kuhn</a>, <a href="/wiki/Le%27Ron_McClain" title="Le'Ron McClain">Le'Ron McClain</a>, <a href="/wiki/Lorenzo_Neal" title="Lorenzo Neal">Lorenzo Neal</a>, <a href="/wiki/Marcel_Reece" title="Marcel Reece">Marcel Reece</a>, <a href="/wiki/Larry_Centers" title="Larry Centers">Larry Centers</a> and <a href="/wiki/Tom_Rathman" title="Tom Rathman">Tom Rathman</a>. </p><p>A decline in the usage of fullbacks, particularly at the professional level occurred during the late 2000s to mid 2010s as teams began focusing more on passing as well as the increased popularity of personnel groupings and formations that omit the position. Modern-day offenses usually employ tight ends in formations that feature a fullback. The role of fullbacks as ball-carriers in the run game has decreased and most fullbacks only run the ball in rare instances, typically in short-yardage situations. The decline of the position peaked during the mid 2010s, where many NFL teams began phasing the position out of their offenses entirely. However, following the <a href="/wiki/2017_NFL_Season" class="mw-redirect" title="2017 NFL Season">2017 NFL Season</a> the position saw a resurgence, with most teams using the position again by the 2020s after coaches following the position's evolution into more of a role similar to a <a href="/wiki/Tight_end" title="Tight end">tight end</a> rather than a running back, with most NFL teams who do not carry an official fullback on their roster but still use the position in their offense usually using a hybrid tight end/fullback or a rotation of reserve tight ends at the position. The importance of fullbacks in the passing game (<a href="/wiki/Kyle_Juszczyk" title="Kyle Juszczyk">Kyle Juszczyk</a> and <a href="/wiki/Alec_Ingold" title="Alec Ingold">Alec Ingold</a> are both examples of contemporary fullbacks who are often used as receivers) has increased while many fullbacks or hybrid players who play another position while also being their team's primary fullback have also become core special teams players, (<a href="/wiki/Derek_Watt" title="Derek Watt">Derek Watt</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Pittsburgh_Steelers" title="Pittsburgh Steelers">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>, <a href="/wiki/Reggie_Gilliam" title="Reggie Gilliam">Reggie Gilliam</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Buffalo_Bills" title="Buffalo Bills">Buffalo Bills</a>, and hybrid linebacker/fullback <a href="/wiki/Nick_Bellore" title="Nick Bellore">Nick Bellore</a> on the <a href="/wiki/Seattle_Seahawks" title="Seattle Seahawks">Seattle Seahawks</a> and <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Lions" title="Detroit Lions">Detroit Lions</a> are all examples of contemporary fullbacks or fullback hybrids who were or are important special teams players. Watt was a Pro Bowl special teamer during the 2020 season and Bellore was a Pro Bowl special teamer during the 2020 and 2023 seasons). </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Football-Formation-FB.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Football-Formation-FB.svg/240px-Football-Formation-FB.svg.png" decoding="async" width="240" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Football-Formation-FB.svg/360px-Football-Formation-FB.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Football-Formation-FB.svg/480px-Football-Formation-FB.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></a><figcaption>Example of fullback positoning in the "I-Form" offense.</figcaption></figure> <p>In the days before <a href="/wiki/One-platoon_system" title="One-platoon system">two platoons</a>, the fullback was usually the team's <a href="/wiki/Punter_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Punter (American football)">punter</a> and <a href="/wiki/Drop_kick" title="Drop kick">drop kicker</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> When, at the beginning of the 20th century, a penalty was introduced for hitting the opposing kicker after a kick, the foul was at first called "<a href="/wiki/Roughing_the_kicker" title="Roughing the kicker">running into the fullback</a>", in as much as the deepest back usually did the kicking.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Before the emergence of the <a href="/wiki/T-formation" class="mw-redirect" title="T-formation">T-formation</a> in the 1940s, most teams used four offensive backs, lined up behind the offensive line, on every play: a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback. The quarterback began each play a quarter of the way "back" behind the offensive line, the halfbacks began each play side by side and halfway "back" behind the offensive line, and the fullback began each play the farthest "back" behind the offensive line. </p><p>As the game evolved and alternate formations came in and went out of fashion, halfbacks (reduced to typically just one rather than two) emerged as the offensive backs most likely to run the ball. "Halfback" came to be synonymous with "running back". Formations began to favor placing the fullback—the back most entrusted with blocking for the running back—closer to the line of scrimmage than the running back. These blocking backs retained the name "fullback" even though they were closer to the offensive line than the halfback. The term "halfback" declined in usage, replaced variously with the more descriptive term "tailback" or the generic term "running back". The term "fullback" is eventually used specifically for blocking backs. </p><p>Fullbacks in modern football are usually lined up behind the quarterback (directly behind in formations like the standard <a href="/wiki/I-formation" class="mw-redirect" title="I-formation">I-formation</a> or offset to either side of the quarterback in formations like the strong I, where they line up on the side with the tight end, or in the weak I where they line up on the side of the formation without the <a href="/wiki/Tight_end" title="Tight end">tight end</a>), though with the rise of shotgun and pistol formations, they sometimes line up next to or in front of the quarterbacks in these formations. When fullbacks are used in pistol formations, they are often lined up next to the quarterback on either side while the running back lines up directly behind the quarterback. In shotgun formations, they are sometimes placed nearer to the offensive line if used as blockers or next to the quarterback where they line up parallel to the running back, who will line up parallel to the fullback on the other side of the quarterback either slightly in front or behind the quarterback. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Characteristics">Characteristics</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Characteristics"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Fullback_(gridiron_football)" title="Special:EditPage/Fullback (gridiron football)">improve this section</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">February 2020</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg/200px-John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="134" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg/300px-John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg/400px-John_Kuhn_running_the_ball.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="685" /></a><figcaption>Fullback <a href="/wiki/John_Kuhn" title="John Kuhn">John Kuhn</a>, with jersey #30, carrying the ball after receiving the hand-off from <a href="/wiki/Aaron_Rodgers" title="Aaron Rodgers">Aaron Rodgers</a> (jersey #12)</figcaption></figure> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Runners">Runners</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Runners"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Fullbacks in the run game are historically more valued as power runners used for their ability to fight for yards as opposed to being fast backs valued for their elusiveness and ability to make explosive plays on the ground. </p><p>While rare, some fullbacks have been their teams' leading rushers. Prominent examples include <a href="/wiki/Le%27Ron_McClain" title="Le'Ron McClain">Le'Ron McClain</a> who was the rushing leader for the <a href="/wiki/Baltimore_Ravens" title="Baltimore Ravens">Baltimore Ravens</a> in 2008 and <a href="/wiki/Tony_Richardson_(American_football)" title="Tony Richardson (American football)">Tony Richardson</a> who led the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a> in rushing in 2000. In 2010, <a href="/wiki/Peyton_Hillis" title="Peyton Hillis">Peyton Hillis</a> led the <a href="/wiki/Cleveland_Browns" title="Cleveland Browns">Cleveland Browns</a> in rushing yards with 1,177 yards as a fullback before being converted into a halfback. </p><p>In the contemporary NFL, the role of fullbacks as ball-carriers is incredibly rare and most are limited to running the ball in select short-yardage situations. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Blocking">Blocking</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Blocking"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg/220px-DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="176" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg/330px-DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg/440px-DetroitLionsRunningPlay-2007.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2430" data-file-height="1944" /></a><figcaption>Running behind the fullback: The QB is about to hand the ball over to the half back #45 who will run with it behind the full back #49</figcaption></figure> <p>Although technically running backs, typically fullbacks are primarily valued for their blocking in most 21st century offenses. The most common and simple runs—the dive and the blast—both employ the fullback as the primary blocker for the halfback. In the <a href="/wiki/Flexbone_formation" title="Flexbone formation">flexbone formation</a>, however, the fullback (sometimes referred to as the B-back) can often be used as the primary rushing threat. </p><p>In many other offensive schemes, the fullback is used as a receiver, especially when the defense <a href="/wiki/Blitz_(gridiron_football)" title="Blitz (gridiron football)">blitzes</a>. In selected plays, some teams will have a lineman report as an eligible receiver to line up as a fullback ("Jumbo" or "Heavy Jumbo") or as a tight end in a "Miami" package in goal-line formations. Players who have been frequently used as situational fullbacks include <a href="/wiki/Haloti_Ngata" title="Haloti Ngata">Haloti Ngata</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dontari_Poe" title="Dontari Poe">Dontari Poe</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jared_Allen" title="Jared Allen">Jared Allen</a> while with the <a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs" title="Kansas City Chiefs">Kansas City Chiefs</a>, <a href="/wiki/Richard_Seymour" title="Richard Seymour">Richard Seymour</a> while with the <a href="/wiki/New_England_Patriots" title="New England Patriots">New England Patriots</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Isaac_Sopoaga" title="Isaac Sopoaga">Isaac Sopoaga</a> while with the <a href="/wiki/San_Francisco_49ers" title="San Francisco 49ers">San Francisco 49ers</a>, while <a href="/wiki/Dan_Klecko" title="Dan Klecko">Dan Klecko</a> and <a href="/wiki/Nikita_Whitlock" title="Nikita Whitlock">Nikita Whitlock</a> have played both as a defensive tackle and fullback. Defensive tackle <a href="/wiki/William_%22The_Refrigerator%22_Perry" class="mw-redirect" title="William "The Refrigerator" Perry">William "The Refrigerator" Perry</a> scored a touchdown in <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XX" title="Super Bowl XX">Super Bowl XX</a> from the fullback position. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Substitutes">Substitutes</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Substitutes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Most teams in the <a href="/wiki/NFL" class="mw-redirect" title="NFL">NFL</a> do not have a substitute fullback in their depth charts. The role can be filled by backup or number three or four tight ends or bigger and less-frequently-used running backs. Occasionally, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_tackle" title="Defensive tackle">defensive tackles</a> have been used in the fullback position (famous examples include <a href="/wiki/William_Perry_(American_football)" title="William Perry (American football)">William "The Refrigerator" Perry</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kyle_Williams_(defensive_tackle)" title="Kyle Williams (defensive tackle)">Kyle Williams</a>); this is most commonly used in goal-line situations, where the defensive tackle's size and ability to penetrate a wall of players becomes an advantage. In modern offenses, fullbacks in an I-formation can be motioned into a 2-TE formation or <a href="/wiki/H-back" title="H-back">H-back</a> formation, making a running back or tight end fairly well suited to the role. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Canadian_football">Canadian football</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Canadian football"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The fullback position is also used in <a href="/wiki/Canadian_football" title="Canadian football">Canadian football</a>. Unlike in professional American football, where teams keeping multiple fullbacks on the same roster is rare, many professional Canadian teams roster multiple fullbacks on their official rosters. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFHoppe2004" class="citation book cs1">Hoppe, Keith (2004). <i>Faith and Football</i>. <a href="/wiki/Xulon_Press" title="Xulon Press">Xulon Press</a>. pp. 36–37. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-59467-669-0" title="Special:BookSources/1-59467-669-0"><bdi>1-59467-669-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Faith+and+Football&rft.pages=36-37&rft.pub=Xulon+Press&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=1-59467-669-0&rft.aulast=Hoppe&rft.aufirst=Keith&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFullback+%28gridiron+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">E.g. <a href="/wiki/Clarence_Herschberger" title="Clarence Herschberger">Clarence Herschberger</a>.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFNelson1994" class="citation book cs1">Nelson, David (1994). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OmwfnipKuogC&q=%22Roughing+the+kicker+%22&pg=PA476"><i>The anatomy of a game: football, the rules, and the men who made the game</i></a>. University of Delaware Press. p. 476. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780874134551" title="Special:BookSources/9780874134551"><bdi>9780874134551</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+anatomy+of+a+game%3A+football%2C+the+rules%2C+and+the+men+who+made+the+game&rft.pages=476&rft.pub=University+of+Delaware+Press&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=9780874134551&rft.aulast=Nelson&rft.aufirst=David&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DOmwfnipKuogC%26q%3D%2522Roughing%2Bthe%2Bkicker%2B%2522%26pg%3DPA476&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFullback+%28gridiron+football%29" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-title,.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow{padding:0.25em 1em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group{white-space:nowrap;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{background-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list{line-height:1.5em;border-color:#fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-list-with-group{text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid}.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-group,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-image,.mw-parser-output tr+tr>.navbox-list{border-top:2px solid #fdfdfd}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title{background-color:#ccf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-title{background-color:#ddf}.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup .navbox-abovebelow{background-color:#e6e6ff}.mw-parser-output .navbox-even{background-color:#f7f7f7}.mw-parser-output .navbox-odd{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox .hlist td ul,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .navbox td.hlist ul{padding:0.125em 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbar{display:block;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-title .navbar{float:left;text-align:left;margin-right:0.5em}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .navbox-image img{max-width:none!important}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .navbox{display:none!important}}</style></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Positions_in_American_football_and_Canadian_football" style="display:table;;padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:American_football_positions" title="Template:American football positions"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:American_football_positions" title="Template talk:American football positions"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:American_football_positions" title="Special:EditPage/Template:American football positions"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Positions_in_American_football_and_Canadian_football" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/American_football_positions" title="American football positions">Positions</a> in <a href="/wiki/American_football" title="American football">American football</a> and <a href="/wiki/Canadian_football" title="Canadian football">Canadian football</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;border-width:0;"><div style="padding:0"> <div class="wikitable"><div style="display:inline-table;width:33.3333%;"> <table style="margin:0.5%;" class="wikitable wraplinks"> <caption><a href="/wiki/Offense_(sports)" title="Offense (sports)">Offense</a> (<a href="/wiki/Skill_position" title="Skill position">Skill position</a>) </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lineman_(gridiron_football)" title="Lineman (gridiron football)">Linemen</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)" title="Tackle (gridiron football position)">Tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Guard_(gridiron_football)" title="Guard (gridiron football)">Guard</a>, <a href="/wiki/Center_(gridiron_football)" title="Center (gridiron football)">Center</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">Quarterback</a> (<a href="/wiki/Dual-threat_quarterback" title="Dual-threat quarterback">Dual-threat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Game_manager" title="Game manager">Game manager</a>, <a href="/wiki/System_quarterback" title="System quarterback">System</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">Running backs</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Halfback_(American_football)" title="Halfback (American football)">Halfback/Tailback</a> (<a href="/wiki/Triple-threat_man" title="Triple-threat man">Triple-threat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Change_of_pace_running_back" title="Change of pace running back">Change of pace</a>), <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Fullback</a>, <a href="/wiki/H-back" title="H-back">H-back</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wingback_(American_football)" title="Wingback (American football)">Wingback</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Receivers </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">Wide receiver</a> (<a href="/wiki/Eligible_receiver" title="Eligible receiver">Eligible</a>), <a href="/wiki/Tight_end" title="Tight end">Tight end</a>, <a href="/wiki/Slotback" title="Slotback">Slotback</a>, <a href="/wiki/End_(gridiron_football)" title="End (gridiron football)">End</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="display:inline-table;width:33.3333%;"> <table style="margin:0.5%;display:inline-table;" class="wikitable wraplinks"> <caption><a href="/wiki/Defense_(sports)" title="Defense (sports)">Defense</a> </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lineman_(gridiron_football)" title="Lineman (gridiron football)">Linemen</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Nose_tackle" class="mw-redirect" title="Nose tackle">Nose tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_tackle" title="Defensive tackle">Tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_end" title="Defensive end">End</a>, <a href="/wiki/Edge_rusher" title="Edge rusher">Edge rusher</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Linebacker" title="Linebacker">Linebacker</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Defensive_back" title="Defensive back">Backs</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Cornerback" title="Cornerback">Cornerback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)" title="Safety (gridiron football position)">Safety</a>, <a href="/wiki/Halfback_(Canadian_football)" title="Halfback (Canadian football)">Halfback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nickelback_(American_football)" title="Nickelback (American football)">Nickelback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dimeback" title="Dimeback">Dimeback</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="display:inline-table;width:33.3333%;"> <table style="margin:0.5%;display:inline-table;" class="wikitable wraplinks"> <caption><a href="/wiki/American_football_positions#Special_teams" title="American football positions">Special teams</a> </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Kicking_specialist" title="Kicking specialist">Kicking</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Placekicker" title="Placekicker">Placekicker</a>, <a href="/wiki/Punter_(gridiron_football)" title="Punter (gridiron football)">Punter</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kickoff_specialist" title="Kickoff specialist">Kickoff specialist</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Snapping </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Long_snapper" title="Long snapper">Long snapper</a>, <a href="/wiki/Holder_(gridiron_football)" title="Holder (gridiron football)">Holder</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Returning </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Return_specialist" title="Return specialist">Punt returner</a>, <a href="/wiki/Return_specialist" title="Return specialist">Kick returner</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jammer_(American_football)" title="Jammer (American football)">Jammer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Upman" class="mw-redirect" title="Upman">Upman</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tackling </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Gunner_(American_football)" title="Gunner (American football)">Gunner</a>, <a href="/wiki/Upback" title="Upback">Upback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Utility_player#American_football" title="Utility player">Utility</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="/wiki/Formation_(American_football)" title="Formation (American football)">Formations</a> <small>(<a href="/wiki/List_of_formations_in_American_football" title="List of formations in American football">List</a>)</small> — <a href="/wiki/History_of_American_football_positions" title="History of American football positions">Nomenclature</a> — <a href="/wiki/Strategy_of_American_football" title="Strategy of American football">Strategy</a></b></div> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&oldid=1258903318">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&oldid=1258903318</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Category</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:American_football_positions" title="Category:American football positions">American football positions</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_needing_additional_references_from_February_2020" title="Category:Articles needing additional references from February 2020">Articles needing additional references from February 2020</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_needing_additional_references" title="Category:All articles needing additional references">All articles needing additional references</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 22 November 2024, at 07:46<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy" class="extiw" title="foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a>. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a>, a non-profit organization.</li> </ul> <ul id="footer-places"> <li id="footer-places-privacy"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="footer-places-about"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:About">About Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-disclaimers"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer">Disclaimers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-contact"><a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us">Contact Wikipedia</a></li> <li id="footer-places-wm-codeofconduct"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="footer-places-developers"><a href="https://developer.wikimedia.org">Developers</a></li> <li id="footer-places-statslink"><a href="https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org">Statistics</a></li> <li id="footer-places-cookiestatement"><a href="https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement">Cookie statement</a></li> <li id="footer-places-mobileview"><a href="//en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fullback_(gridiron_football)&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile" class="noprint stopMobileRedirectToggle">Mobile view</a></li> </ul> <ul id="footer-icons" class="noprint"> <li id="footer-copyrightico"><a href="https://wikimediafoundation.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/static/images/footer/wikimedia-button.svg" width="84" height="29" alt="Wikimedia Foundation" loading="lazy"></a></li> <li id="footer-poweredbyico"><a href="https://www.mediawiki.org/" class="cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--size-large cdx-button--fake-button--enabled"><img src="/w/resources/assets/poweredby_mediawiki.svg" alt="Powered by MediaWiki" width="88" height="31" loading="lazy"></a></li> </ul> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vector-settings" id="p-dock-bottom"> <ul></ul> </div><script>(RLQ=window.RLQ||[]).push(function(){mw.config.set({"wgHostname":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-mhg5j","wgBackendResponseTime":175,"wgPageParseReport":{"limitreport":{"cputime":"0.333","walltime":"0.453","ppvisitednodes":{"value":563,"limit":1000000},"postexpandincludesize":{"value":17384,"limit":2097152},"templateargumentsize":{"value":652,"limit":2097152},"expansiondepth":{"value":12,"limit":100},"expensivefunctioncount":{"value":2,"limit":500},"unstrip-depth":{"value":1,"limit":20},"unstrip-size":{"value":18008,"limit":5000000},"entityaccesscount":{"value":0,"limit":400},"timingprofile":["100.00% 366.923 1 -total"," 28.41% 104.259 1 Template:Reflist"," 27.12% 99.495 1 Template:American_football_positions"," 25.62% 93.992 1 Template:Navbox_top"," 25.29% 92.798 1 Template:Short_description"," 24.50% 89.893 2 Template:Cite_book"," 18.27% 67.023 1 Template:Unreferenced_section"," 17.53% 64.318 2 Template:Pagetype"," 16.96% 62.234 1 Template:Unreferenced"," 16.27% 59.700 1 Template:Ambox"]},"scribunto":{"limitreport-timeusage":{"value":"0.228","limit":"10.000"},"limitreport-memusage":{"value":4519539,"limit":52428800}},"cachereport":{"origin":"mw-web.codfw.main-f69cdc8f6-bgqhr","timestamp":"20241122142514","ttl":2592000,"transientcontent":false}}});});</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"Fullback (gridiron football)","url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fullback_(gridiron_football)","sameAs":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q526960","mainEntity":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q526960","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Contributors to Wikimedia projects"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/static\/images\/wmf-hor-googpub.png"}},"datePublished":"2007-04-19T00:44:18Z","dateModified":"2024-11-22T07:46:08Z","image":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/1\/1a\/Tyler_Huntley.jpg","headline":"position in American or Canadian football"}</script> </body> </html>