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American Football Positions Quiz

Try to name these American football positions based on their abbreviations.
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: October 10, 2013
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First submittedOctober 8, 2010
Times taken112,072
Average score75.0%
Rating4.10
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Abbrev.
Position
LT
Left Tackle
LG
Left Guard
C
Center
RG
Right Guard
RT
Right Tackle
TE
Tight End
WR
Wide Receiver
FB
Fullback
Abbrev.
Position
RB
Running Back
QB
Quarterback
DE
Defensive End
DT
Defensive Tackle
LB
Linebacker
CB
Cornerback
FS
Free Safety
SS
Strong Safety
Abbrev.
Position
K
Kicker
P
Punter
LS
Long Snapper
NB
Nickelback
NT
Nose Tackle
FL
Flanker
KR
Kick Returner
TB
Tailback
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76 Comments
beekash
+12
Level 57
Nov 27, 2013
You could add MLB and OLB.
JDWI
+4
Level 40
Aug 30, 2016
I agree because in technical terms, there is no such position as Line Backer, Wide Receiver and Running Back. They are a class of position, but the positions for the Running Back class are either letters (A, B etc) or Tail Back, Half Back and Full Back. Also with Receivers, they are lettered as X and Y and Z. If you have a 5 receiver set, you would not say you have 5 wide receivers. For Line Backers, you'd have Middle, Outside, etc.
skibumb
+1
Level 50
Mar 2, 2017
this is incorrect
knucklonian
+3
Level 30
May 5, 2017
There's nothing wrong with the terms linebacker, running back and wide receiver. They are all "technically" correct.

For different offenses, formations and teams, different names will be used to differentiate between different positions and roles within these more generalised names given to the positions.

The quiz doesn't need to account for all the variations because not all teams follow the same naming conventions. The quiz is good as it is.

jw79
+3
Level 34
May 17, 2017
In a five wide set you would absolutely say you have 5 wr's. Don't really know where you got your info.
mace0windu
+1
Level 68
Mar 21, 2019
Or kick out LT, RT. It's just tackles and guards. And add halfback.. etc
tshalla
+3
Level 77
Sep 20, 2020
halfback would be a better add than tailback (has anyone ever seen "TB"?). But both would've been more relevant in 1985 than today.
postwaste
+10
Level 86
Nov 27, 2013
I thought Nickelback was a band everybody hated.
ryanmayhem
+1
Level 43
Nov 27, 2013
It is!
Chargers523
+3
Level 10
Jan 20, 2015
Nickelback is amazing!
kalbahamut
+8
Level 81
Aug 27, 2019
...ly bad
JackintheBox
+3
Level 80
Dec 31, 2020
How is Nickelback a bad band? (I know nothing about that band, just interested)
kalbahamut
+1
Level 81
Sep 1, 2022
They make terrible music.
Roonami
+2
Level 45
Mar 20, 2015
I begrudgingly answered it anyway
prattr
+1
Level 32
Nov 27, 2013
place kicker should be accepted for kicker since that is actually the position
thisisfun
+1
Level 33
Jun 3, 2014
Kickers kick the ball. Not hold it
shape816
+4
Level 66
Sep 19, 2020
Wrong. A placekicker is not the holder, it is the kicker. Not a common term, but should be accepted for kicker. Although why one would guess "Place Kicker" for "K" is beyond me.
AUSCUBA
+1
Level 43
Nov 27, 2013
Where are halfback, wing back, slot back, H-back, split end, holder and dime back?
tschutzer
+2
Level 92
Nov 27, 2013
Not every possible name for every position is represented here - these are just the most common. I would argue that FL and NB don't belong here either.
AndrewV
+2
Level 53
Apr 19, 2014
As someone who's watched a lot of football, I've never heard anyone referred to as a flanker as if it is their position.
RandomSportsKid
+1
Level 48
Dec 20, 2014
Flanker is more of a situational position, like Nickelback
nonono
+3
Level 89
Apr 4, 2016
Flanker is an old-school term for a receiver, generally what we could call a slot receiver today.
tshalla
+1
Level 77
Aug 30, 2016
yup, can't remember ever seeing someone designated as an "NB," even if he only comes in for nickel packages.
ozzdome
+1
Level 70
Aug 30, 2016
Sort of like a slot receiver, but lines up more in the backfield closer to the ball. .... the player then typically flanks to the outsides -- the area the wide receivers have vacated. ... It's designed to create mismatches in man defenses and find holes in zone coverage.
joeythelemur
+2
Level 82
Aug 30, 2016
I think the point is, if you asked said player what position they played, practically no one would say "flanker" or "nickel back". They would say "wide receiver" or "defensive back".
rowdygators15
+1
Level 15
Feb 6, 2014
What's flanker?
wallenfk
+1
Level 34
May 28, 2014
flanker is a type of receiver
drcolossal
+1
Level 49
Jun 9, 2014
A flanker is another name for a wide receiver, particularly the receivers furthest away from the ball. The Z-receiver usually is not considered a flanker.
ForgottenOne
+1
Level 50
Aug 30, 2016
This is wrong. In a Pro Set, the Flanker is the 'Z'.
RandomSportsKid
+1
Level 48
Dec 20, 2014
flanker is a sort of running back/wide receiver combo. Usually a running back who lines up as a wide receiver occasionally. Think Reggie Bush, Dexter McCluster, etc.
ForgottenOne
+1
Level 50
Aug 30, 2016
This is also wrong. A Flanker is basically a wide receiver who lines up off the line of scrimmage. Jerry Rice was a Flanker. The only time you would ever really hear the term is when the offense is lined up in a standard Pro Set; 2 Receivers and 1 TE with the receivers on opposite sides. The receiver opposite the TE is the Split End, and the other receiver is the Flanker. If the Flanker would line up on the same side as the Split End in a Slot Formation, then people often refer to that receiver as a Slot Receiver (which has become the more modern term).
DKChappell
+1
Level 36
Dec 8, 2020
Exactly...I'm old enough that I played "flanker" in High School.
LocoOcho
+1
Level 45
Dec 25, 2014
A flanker is a wide receiver. In a standard 2 WR formation, the flanker will line up on the same side of the formation as the tight end, typically off of the line of scrimmage. He will "flank" the TE, hence flanker. Conversely, the other WR will be referred to as the split end. The SE will line up on the opposite side of the formation of the TE and FL, normally on the line of scrimmage.
CapDundas
+2
Level 61
Mar 25, 2014
You could separate wide receiver into flanker (which you have) and split end. Also, coaches will refer to the strong side, middle, and weak side linebackers in a 4-3 as Sam, Mike, and Will. Hence, "53's the Mike! Omaha! Omaha! hut!"
joeythelemur
+1
Level 82
Aug 30, 2016
Nice Manning reference. :-)
burntfrost
+1
Level 48
Apr 21, 2014
I didn't know kicker and punter were positions. But they were easy to guess.

I can't believe I missed linebacker, because my son was a huge baby and I call him my future linebacker!

RandomSportsKid
+1
Level 48
Dec 20, 2014
What is the difference between a running back and a tailback?
mightythor
+1
Level 66
Jan 21, 2015
Nothing.
ohiostatefan
+1
Level 14
Mar 24, 2015
what is a flanker?????
jermayneatl99
+1
Level 29
Sep 1, 2015
Someone want to tell me what a flanker is
RandomSportsKid
+2
Level 48
Sep 16, 2015
I would think that if you're going to accept situational positions (nose tackle, nickelback, flanker, etc.) you should accept things like H-Backs (tight ends that line up in the backfield and are used as fullbacks, Gronk does this often), slotbacks (running backs in the option, used by teams like Georgia Tech and Navy mostly), among others.
joeythelemur
+1
Level 82
Aug 30, 2016
Nosetackle is arguably a real position and not just situational. Unlike DTs that line up on either side of the ball, the NT really does line up directly over the center. Gronk is still a TE, just one that is versatile and is used in different ways.
tshalla
+1
Level 77
Jun 27, 2019
Nose tackle is a base position in a 3-4.
payton34
+1
Level 33
Oct 2, 2015
Flanker got me. Overall good quiz.
jf15
+1
Level 63
Nov 12, 2015
Done with 2:27
ryanmcdevitt
+1
Level 32
Dec 2, 2015
what the heck is flanker
Mr2003
+1
Level 12
Feb 10, 2016
what does a flanker do?
Quizmaster
+7
Level ∞
Apr 21, 2016
Flank?
ForgottenOne
+2
Level 50
Aug 30, 2016
The correct positions for Running Backs would be Halfback and Fullback. A Tailback is just a Halfback that is lined up in an I-formation. In modern terms, you can just stick with Running Back and Fullback. All other terms are obsolete.

Linebackers are separated by Inside and Outside; they are two very different positions. I would have ILB and OLB as different positions.

Nickelback isn't a position. A team will play a 3rd Corner Back when they are in a Nickel Defense, and that player is sometimes referred to as the Nickel Corner or Nickel Back, but nobody ever refers to themselves as the Nickel Back.

And Flanker is indeed a position. It is generally a wide receiver that does not line up on the line of scrimmage (as opposed to a Split End that does). The terms Split End (SE) and Flanker (FL) are not often used anymore, but if you are going to have one you should have the other.

trewilliamsss
+1
Level 12
Feb 11, 2017
24/24 nice quiz!
Kyle5924
+1
Level 21
Feb 28, 2017
24/24 FL almost got me but i made it
HaroldHecuba
+1
Level 40
May 26, 2017
Simple but enjoyable!
Roger77024
+2
Level 57
Jun 29, 2017
Lots of technical debates previously about positions. As an occasional watcher only, I think all positions for which players are SPECIFICALLY chosen/selected should count. Thus, PR should definitely be included, along with ST specialist - but no team drafts a holder - the back-up QB gets it by default. OLB & ILB should be split, HB included, FL & NB dropped. My 10 cents worth!
jmellor13
+2
Level 67
Sep 19, 2020
Hey, sometimes the punter is the holder. Credit where it's due!
kenpo17
+1
Level 66
Nov 2, 2017
Please at least accept halfback as a type-in for running back, even if you don't list it separately.
ShnevorSomeone
+2
Level 61
May 10, 2018
could you accept "long snap" for "long snapper" and "kick receiver" for "kick returner" because I tried those forever
tshalla
+1
Level 77
Jun 27, 2019
Those aren't terms used for those positions.
TheRockObanga
+1
Level 39
Aug 11, 2018
20/24 NT, TB, NB, and FL got me.
AlexThirkell
+1
Level 75
Apr 19, 2020
I only got quarterback and some that are also rugby positions. Weird stuff......
QuizMaster124
+2
Level 19
Jun 30, 2020
I'm a Brit and I got 21/24 I don't know Nickleback, Nose tackle or Flanker.
jmellor13
+2
Level 67
Sep 19, 2020
Nobody has used the term "flanker" since the penny farthing fell out of favor. The term has been "slot receiver" for decades. Usually there are two wide receivers, one on each extreme. The slot receiver is the third receiver, usually positioned between the left receiver and left tackle.
bigvbdude
+1
Level 95
Sep 19, 2020
I've never heard LS used for long snapper. Not saying it's wrong...just never heard it used.
MarieDS
+2
Level 60
Sep 19, 2020
I don't like American football and now I know the terms to articulate exactly what I don't like about it!
sealsi6
+1
Level 58
Sep 19, 2020
What about slot reciever?
AlexThirkell
+1
Level 75
Sep 21, 2020
No sodding clue what any of this is. I got a few from rugby positions, not enough for a point though :(
MrGibbonYT
+1
Level 24
Oct 21, 2020
I'm Gibraltarian and got 10 so I'm happy :)
JackintheBox
+1
Level 80
Dec 31, 2020
I got only two (Center, Quarterback). I know nothing about American Football! 😂
WMD
+1
Level 56
Dec 14, 2021
Interesting, but not surprising, that this quiz has generated so much discussion amongst football fans. Over the years, the game has changed and hybrid positions have come into being. Very few teams use a "flanker" anymore - a position derived from rugby - and instead use assorted positions as "wideouts" or wide receiver. "Nose tackle" was a position created when the 3-4 defensive scheme was developed, while "nickleback" was created when teams stuck a third defensive halfback on some obvious passing downs. "Cornerback" is a name for a defensive halfback who plays on one side of the field. The quiz does not mention "Split End" or "Slot Back", and "Halfbacks" are now called "Runningbacks" while the roll of "Fullback" has largely changed to mean a running back who primarily blocks. "PlaceKicker" is sometimes used to differentiate a "Kicker" from a "Punter" largely depending on what the play by play person wants to say.
elcampeador
+1
Level 79
Jan 11, 2022
The only question is, who actually got 'flanker' correct? I can't imagine anyone actually knowing that off the top of their head.
asdf4881
+1
Level 80
May 9, 2022
rugby fans, I'd imagine
si509
+1
Level 43
Feb 8, 2022
Hey Deebo Samuel though, where are we putting him? I heard he made a name a new name for his position: Wide Back. Obviously not official yet, hopefully it will be, it's like the coolest position ever.
si509
+1
Level 43
Feb 8, 2022
Any specific reason punt returner isn't included? Also, I know it's not but a position (is flanker though?), but put defensive back in, it might trip people up and as stated above, linebacker isn't technically a position,
aolsuxthebigone
+1
Level 67
Sep 24, 2022
You could add split end.
SpartanLlama
+1
Level 71
Feb 21, 2023
Forgot nickelback was a thing but it made sense considering you have quarterback
CardinalSin
+1
Level 79
May 4, 2023
I know nothing about this game and guessed only five answers - including the least-guessed one (which I suppose comes from Rugby).
CMPower43
+1
Level 41
May 21, 2023
Literally no one ever uses the word flanker
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