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

Today, 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

Examples of linebacker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sir Homer King Webb, Sierra Canyon, junior The 6-foot-1 Webb is a 2-way player and left his imprint as both an outside linebacker and wide receiver. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 15 July 2026

Defensive end Anthony Smith is a preseason All-American, and both linebacker Maverick Baranowski (what a name) and cornerback John Nestor are at least All-Big Ten caliber. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Charles Snowden was suspended for the first three games of the 2026 NFL season, the league’s transactional wire said Tuesday. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026

Hammond, 49, has done so many of these busts that this wasn’t even the first Panthers linebacker he’s been assigned. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for linebacker

• firecracker
• acker
• backer
• blacker
• cracker
• hacker
• lacquer
• packer
• slacker
• stacker
• thacker
• tracker

Kids Definition

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