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Coaching roles
HC — Head coach
The coach who runs the entire team. Some head coaches also call the offense or the defense themselves.
OC — Offensive coordinator
The coach who designs the offense and, in most cases, calls the plays.
DC — Defensive coordinator
The coach who designs the defense and, in most cases, calls the plays.
HC/OC or HC/DC
The head coach calls that side of the ball himself instead of handing it to a coordinator.
Positions
QB — Quarterback
The player who takes the snap and either throws the ball, hands it off, or runs it himself.
RB — Running back
The primary ball carrier, who also catches passes and blocks in protection.
FB — Fullback
A heavier back who lines up in front of the running back and blocks. He touches the ball rarely, usually near the goal line.
WR — Wide receiver
A pass catcher split out wide near the sideline. The outside receivers usually run the deeper routes and face the opponent’s best cornerbacks.
X receiver (split end)
The outside receiver who lines up on the line of scrimmage, normally away from the tight end and alone on his side. Because he is on the line, he cannot go in motion before the snap and he sees press coverage from the opponent’s best cornerback more than anyone else on the field. It is the isolation spot, and it belongs to a receiver who can beat a corner one-on-one without help.
Z receiver (flanker)
The outside receiver who lines up a yard off the line of scrimmage, usually to the tight end’s side. That step back means he can go in motion and gets a free release far more often than the X, so offenses use the Z to move a target away from a specific defender.
Slot receiver (Z receiver)
The receiver who lines up inside, between the offensive line and the outside receiver, rather than on the sideline. He has a two-way release, works the middle of the field, and is normally covered by the nickelback. A flanker who aligns inside is playing the slot, which is why the two labels overlap.
TE — Tight end
A hybrid player who blocks like a lineman and catches passes like a receiver.
OL — Offensive line
The five blockers up front: two tackles, two guards, and a center. They protect the quarterback and open running lanes, and they are never eligible to catch a pass in a normal formation.
C — Center
The middle offensive lineman. He snaps the ball and sets the protection calls for the rest of the line.
G — Guard
The linemen on either side of the center. Guards handle interior power and pull across the formation on run plays.
LT — Left tackle
The lineman on the far left of the line. For a right-handed quarterback he protects the blind side, so he almost always draws the opponent’s best edge rusher and is the highest-paid lineman on most rosters. He needs length and foot speed more than raw power.
RT — Right tackle
The lineman on the far right of the line. He works in the quarterback’s line of sight, so the job leans more on run blocking and power, though modern defenses move their best rusher around and put real pressure on this spot too.
EDGE — Edge rusher
A defensive end or outside linebacker whose main job is rushing the passer from outside the tackle.
DL — Defensive lineman
An interior defender who occupies blockers, stops the run, and collapses the pocket.
LB — Linebacker
A second-level defender who fills run gaps and covers backs, tight ends, and hooks.
CB — Cornerback
A defensive back who covers wide receivers, usually on the outside.
NB — Nickelback
The fifth defensive back, who typically covers the slot receiver.
SAF — Safety
The deepest defender, who plays over the top in coverage or drops down to support the run.
K — Kicker
The player who kicks field goals and extra points.
Note: punters and special teams coordinators are not relevant to our data, so they are not rostered, searchable, or listed anywhere on the site.