Positions and roles
Safety (SAF)
The deepest defender, who plays over the top or drops down to support the run.
A safety is the deepest defender. He plays over the top in coverage, rotates to disguise the shell before the snap, or drops into the box to add a run defender.
How many safeties stay deep — one high or two high — is the fastest way to read what a coverage is.
Related terms
More in Positions and roles
- Head coach (HC)
- Offensive coordinator
- Defensive coordinator
- Quarterback (QB)
- Running back (RB)
- Fullback (FB)
- Wide receiver (WR)
- X receiver
- Z receiver (flanker)
- Slot receiver
- Tight end (TE)
- Offensive line (OL)
- Center (C)
- Guard (G)
- Left tackle and right tackle
- Defensive lineman (DL)
- EDGE
- Linebacker (LB)
- Cornerback (CB)
- Slot corner (nickel)
- Kicker (K)
- H-back