backfield

noun

back·​field ˈbak-ˌfēld 

: the football players whose positions are behind the line of scrimmage

also : the positions themselves

Examples of backfield in a Sentence

a tackle made in the backfield

The team has a strong backfield.

Recent Examples on the Web

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes dropped back to throw on 4th-and-short, but the Texans covered his primary target out of the backfield. —Sam McDowell 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026

Running back TreVeyon Henderson was rewarded for an explosive year in the New England backfield by being named finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Licht may also find himself with a significant void in his defensive backfield if Jamel Dean leaves in free agency. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

Walker shouldered more of the backfield load when Charbonnet went down and had his best game of the season against the 49ers, rushing for 116 yards and three touchdowns and tying his single-game career high. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for backfield

• afield
• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• brownfield
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield

Kids Definition

backfield

noun

back·​field -ˌfēld 

: the football players who line up behind the line of scrimmage