1
: the offensive football back farthest from the line of scrimmage
2
British
: a line of vehicles caused by a traffic slowdown or stoppage
Examples of tailback in a Sentence
stuck in a five-mile tailback on the southbound carriageway
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside of tailback De’Von Achane, who led all rushers with 121 yards, most of which came on a 61-yard scamper to set up the Dolphins’ second field goal, the run game once again looked inefficient.
—
C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
The same issue holds when possession is flipped: Will ASU tailback Cam Skattebo have consistent success against a UT run defense that allows just 104 yards per game?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
But the string of modern-day tailbacks stretches to Ian Johnson, who famously won the 2007 Fiesta Bowl on the Statue of Liberty handoff, followed by James Avery, Doug Martin, D.J Harper, Jay Ajayi (the former single-season record holder), Jeremy McNichols, Mattison and George Holani.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Princeton triple-threat tailback Richard Kazmaier wins the Heisman Trophy.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
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C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
The same issue holds when possession is flipped: Will ASU tailback Cam Skattebo have consistent success against a UT run defense that allows just 104 yards per game?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
But the string of modern-day tailbacks stretches to Ian Johnson, who famously won the 2007 Fiesta Bowl on the Statue of Liberty handoff, followed by James Avery, Doug Martin, D.J Harper, Jay Ajayi (the former single-season record holder), Jeremy McNichols, Mattison and George Holani.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Princeton triple-threat tailback Richard Kazmaier wins the Heisman Trophy.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tailback
Dictionary Entries Near tailback
Cite this Entry
“Tailback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailback. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
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