All of the positions in football are important in their own way. One thing that’s key for new fans to remember is not to get too caught up on who has the ball. Players can play a big part in the game without touching the ball, and players such as running backs aren’t as important as new fans might think.
Table of Contents
- Football Positions Ranked By Importance
- 1. Quarterback (Offense)
- 2. Left Tackle (Offense)
- 3. Center (Offense)
- 4. Middle Linebacker (Defense)
- 5. Safety (Defense)
- 6. Defensive End (Defense)
- 7. Wide Receiver (Offense)
- 8. Tight End (Offense)
- 9. Cornerback (Defense)
- 10. Running Back (Offense)
- 11. Outside Linebacker (Defense)
- 12. Right Tackle (Offense)
- 13. Left Guard (Offense)
- 14. Right Guard (Offense)
- 15. Kicker (Special Teams Offense)
- 16. Punter (Special Teams Kicking Team)
- 17. Returner (Special Teams Return Team)
- 18. Long Snapper (Offensive Special Teams)
- FAQ
A ranking of the positions is subject to personal opinions and could easily be argued. Also, each team operates differently, meaning certain positions are more important to some teams than others. With that said, below is a general ranking of positions by its importance to the success of the team as a whole.
1. Quarterback (Offense)
The QB is the most important position on a football team because they are required to handle the ball and make decisions every single play.On passing plays, the quarterback has to deliver the ball perfectly to his receiver. A slight imperfection will not just impede the success of his offense but could lead to an interception and possibly a pick six. A high game IQ and the ability to move around the pocket are other skills that make a quarterback invaluable to their team.
2. Left Tackle (Offense)
The left tackle has the role of protecting the quarterback’s blind side from the defense’s best pass rusher.The defense will put their best pass rusher on this side because they can sneak up on the quarterback’s blind side, giving them a good chance for a sack or deflection. Hits from their blind side can be dangerous for quarterbacks, so left tackles are often the best and most important offensive linemen on their team.
3. Center (Offense)
The center is key to any team’s offense, as they are the only other position besides the quarterback to handle the football every play. The center is also responsible for making reads on the defense and calling blocking schemes. A center’s vision, football IQ, and speed are crucial to get the ball moving quickly and accurately past the defense. If the blocking is way off, you can often blame the center for the reads they made at the line.
4. Middle Linebacker (Defense)
The middle linebacker is commonly referred to as the quarterback of the defense.This is because they must call plays on defense, and they have to be extremely skilled to play in the middle of the field.This communication and play calling capacity makes them the most important defensive players. Middle linebackers are strong but also fast enough to cover receivers or rush the quarterback before they can release the ball.
5. Safety (Defense)
The safety is not only responsible for multiple assignments in the passing game defense but also is tasked with support in run defense.Safeties are typically the last line of defense on long pass plays. This means any mistakes they make will be amplified, as they have no backup behind them, making the safety almost as important as the middle linebacker.
6. Defensive End (Defense)
A good pass rush is the key to a good defense, and the DE is the muscle of a good rush. Defensive ends must put pressure on the quarterback, otherwise the opposing quarterback will have ample time to get off a good pass. Defensive ends also help defend against running plays to the outside edges of the field.
7. Wide Receiver (Offense)
A quarterback needs fast and accurate players to throw to if the offense wants to generate yardage. Wide receivers run routes and catch passes.They are often some of the biggest names on the field since they are involved in important plays and score a good deal of their teams’ touchdowns. However, the offensive line and quarterback have to do their jobs to even give the wide receivers a chance.
8. Tight End (Offense)
The tight end is a bit of a modified receiver. While these bulky players will sometimes go out to catch a pass, they are also responsible for blocking on many plays. A good tight end can give an offense extra options as a receiver, while also helping protect the quarterback and provide the running back a running lane.
9. Cornerback (Defense)
Cornerbacks are nimble, athletic defense players that cover the offense’s wide receivers.A bad cornerback is a huge problem for a defense, as they will get exposed throughout the game. A good cornerback can take away an offense’s best wide receiver, and even force the opposing offense to stick predominantly to rushing plays.
10. Running Back (Offense)
The running back used to be far more important than it is in today’s modern game. Passing has become much more prevalent, and teams often use a “running back by committee” approach. This is a position that ranges in value from team to team. Having a successful running back can define an offense and force an opposing defense to put more focus into their run defense, allowing the offense more room to pass the ball down the field.
11. Outside Linebacker (Defense)
The outside linebacker plays behind the defensive line and their roles include covering tight ends and shutting down or containing the run game. At times, outside linebackers may also be tasked with rushing the quarterback in an attempt to overwhelm the offensive line. They are ranked a bit lower since they aren’t implemented on every play, however the best outside linebackers are a difference maker in any given game.
12. Right Tackle (Offense)
The right tackle has all the same jobs as the left tackle, but is much less important because they are typically not on the quarterback’s blind side.This gives them a bit more room for error, and they also will draw weaker matchups than the left tackle. This is not true though in the rare case that the quarterback is left-handed.
13. Left Guard (Offense)
The left guard is on the blind side of the offensive line.They don’t have to take on the highly skilled pass rushers like offensive tackles do, but they are tasked with stopping 300-plus pound defenders. This position requires a lot of strength and grit to succeed.
14. Right Guard (Offense)
The right guard has the same job as the left guard, but they’re slightly less important since they are typically not on the quarterback’s blind side.Nonetheless, the best offensive lines in the NFL need skill distributed across each position, making the right guard another integral part of any offensive effort.
15. Kicker (Special Teams Offense)
Though it is rare, a game can come down to a place kicker’s ability to hit a clutch field goal. While kickers can make or break a season on one play, throughout the season they are not nearly as useful as others because they take part in so few plays. Kickers are also thought of as fairly replaceable, with some teams rotating through two or more kickers in any given season.
16. Punter (Special Teams Kicking Team)
Punters work to give your team better defensive field positioning when it gets to fourth down. While a bad punter can get a team in trouble, they can’t really win you a game. Some punters are also tasked with holding the football in place on field goal attempts, and will occasionally be used in trick plays on fourth down in an attempt to catch the defense by surprise.
17. Returner (Special Teams Return Team)
The kick returner is often a wide receiver but could also be a player whose sole job is to return kicks. A top-tier kick returner can regularly provide their offense with an ideal starting position on the field, allowing the offense a better opportunity to drive down the field and score. Since their job only matters a few times per game, they are pretty far down on the list.
18. Long Snapper (Offensive Special Teams)
Long snappers take over for the center on a field goal attempt or a punt.A long snapper’s success is mostly defined by successfully getting the ball to the punter or holder. Similar to a punter, a long snapper has much more of a chance to lose you the game than win you the game. An errant snap could give your opponent free points or crush a late game opportunity to tie things up.
FAQ
What football position scores the most touchdowns?
The top touchdown scorers are usually a wide receiver or running back.The top scoring position on any given football team though can vary depending on the way the offense is run. Some of the best tight ends in the NFL will lead their team in touchdowns, but this isn’t common. This all excludes the quarterback, who can throw upwards of 40 touchdowns in a good season.
What is the highest paid football position?
The quarterback is by far the highest paid position in professional football.As the most important position on this list and the focal point of the offense, it makes sense that quarterbacks are getting paid the most. In fact, the five highest paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks, with Packer QB Aaron Rodgers making an impressive $50 million in just one season.
Who is the best quarterback of all time?
Top quarterbacks of all time arguably include Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning.Each of these players was the heart and soul of their team’s offense, and have several Super Bowl rings to show for it. One of the main arguments made is that Tom Brady’s record seven Super Bowl rings indicates he is the greatest quarterback to ever take the gridiron, but this is a debate that won’t come to a conclusion anytime soon.
