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

Before the injury, Stevenson was handling roughly three‑quarters of snaps in the backfield, so his presence should vastly limit Henderson's workload. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

There was one sequence when BYU nose tackle Keanu Tanuvasa pushed a TCU offensive lineman five yards into the backfield. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Nov. 2025

Good teams are able to balance the run game with the pass game, but when a pass game lacks a consistent downfield threat, opposing defenses can follow the Saints’ script and stack the box against the backfield. —Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2025

Robinson has been more effective as a rusher at times, so stash Robinson in case the 49ers start sharing more backfield work. —Jake Ciely, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2025

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