linebacker
noun
line·back·er
ˈlīn-ˌba-kər 
plural linebackers
: a football player on the defending team who typically lines up behind the defensive linemen
They play tight defense in the secondary, and linebackers fill gaps on the run and are expected to defend the pass.—
Jerry McDonald
Jerry McDonaldToday, a blitzing linebacker is just as likely to get a sack because no one blocked him as he is on a great pass rush move.—Tim Green
Tim GreenExamples of linebacker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Two were safeties, one was an outside linebacker, and the other was an offensive lineman.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
The outside linebacker gave Denver’s pass rush a shot of size and juice in his first year with the Broncos, racking up five sacks in 12 games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 June 2025
Stewart was considered a raw prospect coming out of the Aggies’ program, someone who possesses tremendous athletic ability but needs to shore up the technical aspects of playing outside linebacker.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025
Hamilton, from Ohio State, adds depth to a defensive line led by Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, while fellow fifth-round pick Pooh Paul from Mississippi does the same for an inside linebacker corps that features Omar Speights and Nathan Landman.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for linebacker
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Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
The outside linebacker gave Denver’s pass rush a shot of size and juice in his first year with the Broncos, racking up five sacks in 12 games.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 June 2025
Stewart was considered a raw prospect coming out of the Aggies’ program, someone who possesses tremendous athletic ability but needs to shore up the technical aspects of playing outside linebacker.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2025
Hamilton, from Ohio State, adds depth to a defensive line led by Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, while fellow fifth-round pick Pooh Paul from Mississippi does the same for an inside linebacker corps that features Omar Speights and Nathan Landman.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for linebacker
Cite this Entry
“Linebacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linebacker. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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linebacker
noun
line·back·er
ˈlīn-ˌbak-ər
: a football player on the defending team whose usual position is a short distance in back of the line of scrimmage
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