HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

A fullback (FB) is a position in the offensive backfield in gridiron football, and is one of the two
running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball, and block. Th ...
positions along with the halfback. Fullbacks are typically larger than halfbacks and in most offensive schemes the fullback's duties are split among power running, pass catching, and blocking for both the
quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Am ...
and the other running back. Many great runners in the history of American football have been fullbacks, including Jim Brown, Marion Motley, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Taylor, Franco Harris,
Larry Csonka Larry Richard Csonka (; born December 25, 1946) is a former professional American football fullback who played for the Miami Dolphins for the majority of his career, along with the New York Giants for three years, and a short stint with the ...
, John Riggins, Christian Okoye, and Levi Jackson. However, many of these runners would retroactively be labeled as halfbacks, due to their position as the primary ball carrier; 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 Vonta Leach,
Mike Alstott Michael Joseph Alstott (born December 21, 1973), is a former American football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nicknamed "A-Train", he played college football at Purdue a ...
, William Henderson, Daryl Johnston,
Kyle Juszczyk Kyle Patrick Juszczyk ( ; born April 23, 1991) is an American football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Harvard, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round ...
, John Kuhn, Le'Ron McClain,
Lorenzo Neal Lorenzo LaVonne Neal (born December 27, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. Neal played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He ...
, Marcel Reece, and Tom Rathman.


History

In the days before two platoons, the fullback was usually the team's punter and drop kicker. 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 " running into the fullback", inasmuch as the deepest back usually did the kicking. Before the emergence of the T-formation 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. 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". In the modern game, when the quarterback is under center, the fullback most often lines up directly behind the quarterback and in front of the halfback or tailback. The fullback position has seen a decline in recent time, with only 17 full-time fullbacks playing in 2016. The trend can be traced back to teams choosing to pass more, the use of "11 personnel" (one running back and one tight end), and the use of hybrid "H-backs".


Characteristics

Fullbacks are typically known less for speed and agility and more for muscularity and the ability to shed tackles. In 2010s NFL, fullbacks, while occasionally deployed as ball carriers, are often primarily a lead blocker to allow running backs to get to the secondary of the opposing team's defense. In the early 2000s, many NFL teams used blocking fullbacks, such as Tony Richardson, Vonta Leach, and
Lorenzo Neal Lorenzo LaVonne Neal (born December 27, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for sixteen seasons. Neal played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He ...
, with great success. These backs cleared the way for some of the decade's great running backs. Later on, some teams have phased the fullback position out of their offense altogether, with those teams either all but eschewing the I-formation, or instead utilizing either a tight end, h-back, or backup running-back in the role. Prominent fullbacks in the NFL as of 2022 include C. J. Ham,
Andy Janovich Andy Janovich (born May 23, 1993) is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He played college football at Nebraska, and was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He has also played for the Clevela ...
,
Jamize Olawale Jamize Robert Olawale (born April 17, 1989) is an American football fullback who is a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at North Texas. Early years In August 1998, ...
, Patrick Ricard, Alec Ingold, Bruce Miller,
Cullen Gillaspia Cullen Gillaspia (born May 12, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M Aggies football, Texas A&M. Early years Gillaspia attended and playe ...
,
Anthony Sherman Anthony Michael Sherman (born December 11, 1988) is a former American football fullback. He spent the majority of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth ...
,
Kyle Juszczyk Kyle Patrick Juszczyk ( ; born April 23, 1991) is an American football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Harvard, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round ...
, and Keith Smith. In spite of their usually infrequent carries, some fullbacks have led their teams in rushing – among the most notable ones were Le'Ron McClain who was the rushing leader for the
Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...
in 2008 and Tony Richardson who led the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing in 2000. In 2010, Peyton Hillis led the
Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conferenc ...
in rushing yards with 1,177 yards as a fullback before being converted into a halfback.


Blocking

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 flexbone formation, however, the fullback (sometimes referred to as the B-back) can often be used as the primary rushing threat. In many other offensive schemes, the fullback is used as a receiver, especially when the defense blitzes. In selected plays, some teams will have a defensive 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 Haloti Ngata, Dontari Poe, Jared Allen while with the Kansas City Chiefs, Richard Seymour while with the New England Patriots, and Isaac Sopoaga while with the
San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's Nationa ...
, while
Dan Klecko Dan Klecko (born January 12, 1981) is a former American football defensive tackle and fullback. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Temple. Klecko has also been ...
and Nikita Whitlock have played both as a defensive tackle and fullback. Defensive Tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XX from the fullback position.


Substitutes

Most teams in the NFL do not have a substitute fullback, though there are exceptions. The role can be filled by backup or number three or four tight ends or bigger and less-frequently-used running backs. Occasionally, defensive tackles have been used in the fullback position (famous examples include William "The Refrigerator" Perry and Kyle Williams); 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 H-back formation, making a running back or tight end fairly well suited to the role.


Canadian football

The fullback position is less frequently used in Canadian football, which focuses more on passing than running the ball.


References

{{American football positions American football positions