• 17 positions
  • Checked October 2026

Football Positions Labeled

One common offense and one common defense from above, every position named where it lines up.

Football Positions Labeled

Name Date

Tap any position to read, rename or leave it out

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
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Write the name of each numbered position.Answer key

  1. Quarterback
  2. Running back (halfback)
  3. Wide receiver
  4. Center
  5. Middle linebacker
  6. Cornerback
  7. Defensive end
  8. Free safety
  9. Fullback
  10. Tight end
  11. Guard (offensive guard)
  12. Tackle (offensive tackle)
  13. Defensive tackle
  14. Strongside linebacker
  15. Weakside linebacker
  16. Strong safety
  17. Line of scrimmage

Drawn for this site on 2026-10-03 from plain geometry. Licence: own work.

Each numbered ring is a button. Use the arrow keys to move between them and Enter to choose. Names are read out in Study, and once a position is answered.

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All 17 positions on the diagram

Show the list

Start here: 8 main positions 8

  1. Quarterback Takes the snap from the center. Then runs, hands off or passes.
  2. Running back (halfback) The main ball carrier. Other names: halfback, tailback.
  3. Wide receiver Lines up near a sideline and runs downfield to catch passes.
  4. Center Each play starts when he snaps to the quarterback.
  5. Middle linebacker The linebacker in the middle. Often calls the plays for the defense.
  6. Cornerback Lines up across from a wide receiver to defend against passes.
  7. Defensive end Plays at an outer end of the defensive line.
  8. Free safety Usually the deepest defender. Helps against long passes.

Offense 4

  1. Fullback A larger back who often blocks for the running back.
  2. Tight end Lines up next to a tackle. Blocks, or catches passes.
  3. Guard (offensive guard) One of two linemen, one on each side of the center.
  4. Tackle (offensive tackle) One of two linemen who play outside the guards.

Defense 5

  1. Defensive tackle Plays in the defensive line's middle.
  2. Strongside linebacker Lines up facing the tight end.
  3. Weakside linebacker Lines up on the side away from the tight end.
  4. Strong safety Plays closer to the line, on the tight end's side.
  5. Line of scrimmage The line through the ball before a play. The two sides line up across it.

How this list was compiled: Read 2026-10-03; a name is kept only where both use it. (1) Wikipedia, American football positions and Linebacker, text only (offense: the center snaps the ball; two guards on each side of the center and two tackles outside the guards; the quarterback receives the ball from the center and may run, hand off or pass; running backs line up behind the line, the tailback or halfback the primary ball carrier, the fullback larger and primarily a blocker; wide receivers split wide near the sidelines; tight ends next to the tackles, blocking or catching passes; defense: defensive tackles at the center of the defensive line and defensive ends outside them; linebackers behind the line, the middle linebacker often the defensive play caller, the strongside linebacker across from the tight end and the weakside linebacker; cornerbacks and safeties as defensive backs, the free safety typically the deepest and the strong safety closer to the line on the tight end side; the 4-3 defense of four linemen and three linebackers; line-ups vary). (2) The terms glossary of the professional league's football operations site (Center, Offensive Guard, Offensive Tackle, Quarterback, Running Back, or halfback or tailback, Fullback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Defensive Tackle, Defensive End, Linebacker with the middle, strong side and weak side linebackers of a standard 4-3 defense, Cornerback, Safety with the free safety and the strong safety, Line of Scrimmage; the strong side is the one where the tight end lines up). Licence: own work

The drawing: Drawn for this site on 2026-10-03 from plain geometry; nothing traced. A diagram of one common line-up for each side, not to scale. Licence: own work

How it works

Football positions labeled on two line-ups: an offense with a quarterback, backs, receivers and five linemen, and a defense with linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. Line-ups vary from team to team.

Read the full guide

The offense

The center snaps the ball to the quarterback. A guard lines up on each side of the center and a tackle outside each guard: those five are the offensive line. The tight end is next to a tackle, the wide receivers are out near the sidelines, and the fullback and the running back are behind the quarterback.

The defense

Defensive tackles play in the middle of the defensive line, with a defensive end at each end. Three linebackers stand behind them. A cornerback faces each wide receiver, and the two safeties are the deepest players.

  • On this drawing circles are the offense and triangles are the defense. The square is the center.
  • The strong side is the side where the tight end lines up.

Questions and answers

What are the positions in football?

On offense: quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, tight end, center, guard and tackle. On defense: defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and safety. Special teams play on kicking plays.

What is the difference between a guard and a tackle?

Both are offensive linemen who block. The two guards line up on each side of the center. The two tackles line up outside the guards.

What is the difference between a cornerback and a safety?

Both are defensive backs. Cornerbacks line up across from the wide receivers. Safeties line up deeper: the free safety is usually the deepest, and the strong safety plays closer to the line, on the tight end's side.

Does every football team line up like this?

No. The drawing shows one common offense, with two backs and one tight end, and one common defense, with four linemen and three linebackers. Teams change the number of backs, receivers, linemen and linebackers.

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