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
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The intrigue: Irish coach Marcus Freeman was born in Huber Heights near Dayton, played three years at linebacker for Ohio State and was a graduate assistant here in 2010 under Jim Tressel.
—Andrew King, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
His 77 regular-season pressures ranked No. 4 among all defensive linemen or linebackers, according to TruMedia, and his average 17.1 percent pressure rate was well above the league’s average of 11.4 percent for players at those positions with 450 or more snaps.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
After being fired from Miami, Flores spent one season as the Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach before becoming the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2023.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025
Nicholson will have a stable of experienced linebackers for his first season in Columbia.
—Davis Wilson, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
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Andrew King, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
His 77 regular-season pressures ranked No. 4 among all defensive linemen or linebackers, according to TruMedia, and his average 17.1 percent pressure rate was well above the league’s average of 11.4 percent for players at those positions with 450 or more snaps.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
After being fired from Miami, Flores spent one season as the Steelers senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach before becoming the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2023.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025
Nicholson will have a stable of experienced linebackers for his first season in Columbia.
—Davis Wilson, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for linebacker
Dictionary Entries Near linebacker
Cite this Entry
“Linebacker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linebacker. Accessed 22 Jan. 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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