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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Star linebacker Nolan Smith suffered a torn triceps during the big game but chose to play through the injury.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Harrison, the two-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker, threatened Ochocinco as their ongoing verbal beef escalated.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Arkansas lost three transfers to Ole Miss; starting offensive linemen Joshua Braun and Addison Nichols to Kentucky and SMU, respectively; starting safety TJ Metcalf (and his younger brother, Tevis) to Michigan; and promising linebacker Brad Spence to Texas.
—Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
His unit improved over the second half of the season, and seven of the top nine players in special teams playing time are coming out of contract: defensive end Daniel Hardy, Sanborn, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, Blackwell, Martin, safety Tarvarius Moore and running back Travis Homer.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
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Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Harrison, the two-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker, threatened Ochocinco as their ongoing verbal beef escalated.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
Arkansas lost three transfers to Ole Miss; starting offensive linemen Joshua Braun and Addison Nichols to Kentucky and SMU, respectively; starting safety TJ Metcalf (and his younger brother, Tevis) to Michigan; and promising linebacker Brad Spence to Texas.
—Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
His unit improved over the second half of the season, and seven of the top nine players in special teams playing time are coming out of contract: defensive end Daniel Hardy, Sanborn, linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, Blackwell, Martin, safety Tarvarius Moore and running back Travis Homer.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 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 Mar. 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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