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Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team , and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen , playing closer to the line of scrimmage than the defensive backs (secondary).
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players [1] on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitutions", meaning that they may change any number of players during any "dead ball" situation.
In American football, only one offensive player can be in motion at a time, cannot be moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap, and may not be a player who is on the line of scrimmage. In Canadian football, more than one back can be in motion, and may move in any direction as long as they are behind the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Instead of the position name following the player to a different position, a new position name may be applied in such a substitution situation. This occurs when a team that usually uses four defensive backs (counting cornerbacks and safeties) adds a fifth, thus producing the "nickel" defense (a nickel being a 5 cent piece).
The numbers on the front and back are very large, covering most of the jersey. Certain numbers may only be worn by players in specific positions, thus assisting the officials in determining penalties. At all levels of football, each player dressed for a game must wear a unique number from 0 to 99.
The earliest numbering systems were significantly different from the modern variation. Until the 1920s, when the NFL limited its rosters to 22 players, it was rare to see player numbers much higher than 25 (Red Grange was a notable exception, wearing 77 with the Chicago Bears while playing halfback, which would not be allowed under current NFL rules), and numbers had little correlation with ...
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Players of American football by position (16 C) Pages in category "American football positions" The following 44 pages are in this category, out of 44 total.