Offensive Positions in Football

Every team has 11 players on offense.

There are eleven different offensive players on every football team, and it is the job of the offense to get the ball down the field into the end zone to score points. The backbone of the offense is the offensive line.  These five players do everything they can to keep defenders from getting near the quarterback, and they create holes so that the running backs can get through the defense to gain yardage.  

The three main offensive positions belong to the center, guard and tackle. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback, two guards and two tackles try and keep everyone away from the quarterback and the receiver. Sometimes there is a tight end who lines up to the outside of the tackles but more often the tight end is used as a pass receiver. Also on the scrimmage line are the wide receivers, whose job it is to catch passes from the quarterback and run as fast as possible down the field.  They hope to outrun the defense. 

Lining up behind the line of scrimmage are the running backs, which consist of both halfbacks and fullbacks. Halfbacks run with the football while the fullbacks block for them.  The quarterback calls the plays and is considered the most important member of the offense--this coveted position has a lot of competition and is usually more in the public eye than any other of the players. 

Here is a closer look at exactly what each player does at his offensive position: 

Quarterback 

The offensive position that people are the most familiar with is by far the quarterback. He is in charge of the on-the-field offense.  He is also the one who receives the ball from the center at the start of every play. No matter what offense the team is using, the quarterback really only has two choices--pass the ball or run with the ball himself. 

Halfback 

The halfback’s role is to run with the football until he is stopped, usually by a tackle or by going out of bounds. 

Fullback 

The offensive position of fullback is one of blocking.  He blocks either so that the halfback can pick up yards running with the ball or so that the quarterback can have a free passing lane.  The fullback can also run with the ball when the team needs to gain short yardage.  

Wide Receiver 

A wide receiver usually lines up on the line of scrimmage or close to it, and is the guy whose job it is to catch passes from the quarterback and then run with the ball towards the outside of the field. 

Offensive Tackle 

There are two offensive tackles on each play.  They begin on the line of scrimmage next to the offensive guards. Their job is to tackle defenders to make holes so that the quarterback can advance the ball down the field. 

Tight End 

Whoever plays the tight-end position can be a receiver or a blocker, depending on what is needed on the play. On the line of scrimmage they are either left or right of the quarterback and next to the offensive tackle. 

Offensive Guard 

Each team had two offensive guards.  They line up on either side of the center. 

Center 

The center is the player who snaps the ball to the quarterback when each play starts. He is always in the middle of the offensive line, with an offensive guard on each side.