Halfback (American Football)
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Halfback American Football
Adrian Peterson lined up at halfback

A halfback (HB) is an offensive position in American football, whose duties involve lining up in the backfield[1] and carrying the ball on most rushing plays, i.e. a running back. When the principal ball carrier lines up deep in the backfield, and especially when that player is placed behind another player (usually a blocking back), as in the I formation, that player is instead referred to as a tailback (see History below).[2][3]

The halfback position is one of the more glamorous positions on the field, and is commonly viewed as a requirement for a team's success.[4] Sometimes the halfback can catch the ball from the backfield on short passing plays as he is an eligible receiver. Occasionally, they line up as additional wide receivers. When not running or catching the ball, the primary responsibility of a halfback is to aid the offensive linemen in blocking, either to protect the quarterback or another player carrying the football.



Adrian Peterson running with the ball


Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive position. Now that most offensive formations have only one or two running backs, the original designations do not mean as much, as the fullback is now usually a lead blocker (technically a halfback), while the halfback or tailback (called such because he stands at the "tail" of the I) lines up behind the fullback. There has also been a shift in most offense's dependence on halfbacks, as the quarterback is now generally considered the most essential part of a team. However, the average output of the halfback has not changed.

In the related sport of Canadian football, halfback is usually a defensive rather than offensive position since the 1980s, though used to also refer to an offensive position similar to a slotback that could line up off the tight end or behind the quarterback. Older systems require the halfback be proficient at throwing the ball downfield as well.

Many of the "scat backs" in the modern era produce more total yards and touchdowns than their ancestor "power backs" by breaking off big plays on outside runs and receptions. The spread offense and the hurry-up offense change the halfback's role but create more opportunity for these plays. The spread, the hurry-up, and the pro-style offenses dominate American football but the "smash-mouth" style of play is far from extinct. A power-running scheme is often utilized to counter an effective Spread attack, as it allows a team to control the clock and keep the ball out of the opposing offense's control. This strategy is utilized in NFL, college, and all other forms of American football. The need for "power backs" is very prevalent, alongside the need for "scat backs", and anything in between.


In the last few decades the running back's individual share of offensive output has declined as quarterbacks are generally treated as the cornerstone of the offense.[6] The demands of an up-tempo offense also favor a multiple running back system.

Smash mouth football

From the dawn of American football through the 1880s most offensive schemes focused on the running game. In a running based game plan the halfback was typically the cornerstone of the offense. This system focused on a physical run attack concentrated in the inside of the field, and therefore depended on a skilled "power back." There were no forward passes, and pure speed took a backseat to tackle-breaking and bucking ability. There was a focus on physicality over finesse, as this type of playing style earned the moniker of "smash mouth" football.

Willie Heston, a great early power back

Back Willie Heston of Fielding Yost's "point-a-minute" Michigan team has been acknowledged as the first to play at what later was designated as the tailback position on offense. Prior to Heston, left halfbacks ran plays in one direction, and right halfbacks ran plays in the other direction. Because of Heston's speed and agility, Yost placed Heston in the tailback position so that he could carry the ball on plays to either side of the line.[7]

Heston's charging ability and open-field running have also been credited with leading to the origin of the "seven man line and a diamond on defense."[7] Minnesota's College Football Hall of Fame coaching staff of Henry L. Williams and Pudge Heffelfinger devised the strategy in 1903 to stop Heston. Minnesota had previously used the then-traditional nine-man line with the fullback backing up the line and a safety man down the field.[7] Heffelfinger suggested that the halfbacks be pulled out of the line and stationed behind the tackles, thus requiring Heston to break through an initial seven-man line and a secondary line consisting of the fullback and two halfbacks. Known as the Minnesota shift, the formation became a standard practice.[7] In 1936, Arch Ward credited Heston with leading to one of the "noteworthy transitions" in football history.[7]

St. Louis University halfback Brad Robinson demonstrating "Overhand spiral--fingers on lacing".

The sport's first triple threat, Bradbury Robinson of St. Louis University, ran, passed, received and punted out of the halfback position. It was as a halfback that Robinson threw the first legal forward pass to teammate Jack Schneider in a game at Carroll College on September 5, 1906. Halfback Jim Thorpe rushed for some 2,000 yards in 1912 as a member of the Carlisle Indians. In 1928, Ken Strong accounted for some 3,000 yards. Don Hutson, one of the sport's first great receivers, had his passes in college tossed by halfback Dixie Howell.

Characteristics of a halfback


Ohio State halfback Chic Harley.


Halfbacks are expected to have good on-field "vision" in that they can identify open lanes on the field to run through. Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith of the Dallas Cowboys and Le'Veon Bell of the New York Jets, for example, are renowned for their patient running styles and ability to quickly identify lanes created by blockers, despite not being known for their speed.[8]

Harry Gilmer catching a football.



Some teams have a halfback who is more skilled at catching short passes than the starting halfback on the team, and/or is better at pass blocking or "picking up the blitz" than that of the other backs. Known as a "third down" back, he is often put in the game in third down and long situations where a pass is needed to pick up a first down. He can also be used to fool the defense by making them think he is being put into the game for a pass play, when the play is actually a run. Darren Sproles was one of the most prominent examples of a "third down" back. While never considered a workhorse back partly due to his diminutive 5'6" stature, Sproles was effective due to his elusiveness and ability to catch and block, enjoying a 14-year career with over 4,800 career receiving yards as a result.[9] Current examples of these third down backs include Tarik Cohen of the Chicago Bears, Duke Johnson of the Cleveland Browns, Chris Thompson of the Washington Redskins and James White of the New England Patriots.



Physical characteristics

Cal halfback Marshawn Lynch.

There is a great diversity in those who play at the running back position. At one extreme are smaller, faster players. These fast, agile, and elusive running backs are often called "scat backs" because their low center of gravity and maneuverability allow them to dodge tacklers. Hall-of-famer Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions and Chris Johnson exemplified this running style. "Scat backs" still active in the NFL include LeSean McCoy of the Kansas City Chiefs, Tevin Coleman of the San Francisco 49ers, Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers and Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints. This type of running back has grown in demand due to changes in offensive play calling, style, and tempo. The trending spread offense demands a player that can utilize open space as much as possible as run blockers are sacrificed to spread out the defense.[10]

At the other extreme are "power backs": bigger, stronger players who can break through tackles using brute strength and raw power. They are usually (but not always) slower runners compared to other backs, and typically run straight ahead (or "North-and-South" in football terminology) rather than dodging to the outside edges of the playing field (i.e. running "East-and-West") like shorter, quicker, lighter backs will often do. Power backs from previous generations such as Jim Brown and Larry Csonka were often classified as fullbacks, but halfbacks such as Jerome Bettis and Steven Jackson also exemplify the power back position. More recent examples include Marshawn Lynch, LeGarrette Blount, Frank Gore of the Buffalo Bills, and Leonard Fournette of the Jacksonville Jaguars[11]. For many years the "power" running back was the central component of an offense. In that time period formations and rhythm favored this type of player. This sort of offensive scheme is now a rarity, as "power backs" take on supporting roles behind faster and more versatile running backs.[10]

In the modern age, an "every-down" halfback has to have a combination of speed and power running ability, along with a great capability to catch the ball. A primary running back also needs abundant stamina to remain consistent in an up-tempo offense. Backs such as Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith were appraised for their versatile running styles and abilities. More recent examples include Adrian Peterson, Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams and Melvin Gordon of the Los Angeles Chargers.[10]

Goal line backs


Special teams

A halfback might be called upon to return punts and kickoffs on special teams. Although this is most often done by wide receivers and defensive backs, such as cornerbacks (because they are generally the fastest players on the team), some halfbacks have enough speed and talent to perform this role. The NFL's current all-time leading in kickoff return yards (14,014 yards) and punt return yards (4,999) by a halfback is Brian Mitchell. He also gained 1,967 rushing yards, 2,336 receiving yards, and 15 fumble return yards, giving him a total of 23,330 all-purpose yards, the second most in NFL history behind Jerry Rice. A halfback, typically a back-up, can also play upback, which is a blocking back who lines up approximately 1-3 yards behind the line of scrimmage in punting situations and usually receive snaps on a fake punt.


Halfback Ronnie Brown throwing out of the wildcat.

On rare occasions, and in the early days of the sport, a halfback is asked to throw the ball when running a HB option.[12][13] This play is generally referred to as a half-back pass, regardless if the player throwing the football is a tailback or fullback. This play is risky because most halfbacks are inexperienced passers, and so it is often run only by certain halfbacks more skilled at passing than most. The halfback can also throw the ball while running a direct snap play where the center snaps the ball to halfback directly. This has become particular in teams that use the Wildcat formation, most prominently the Miami Dolphins, where running back Ronnie Brown would run, pass, and receive out of this set.

See also


  1. ^ Halfback lineup in a play archived from NFL.com
  2. ^ "USA Football". www.usafootball.com.
  3. ^ Halfback info at about.com
  4. ^ Halfback job type at findarticles.com
  5. ^ "Ravens' Ray Rice leads running back evolution".
  6. ^ "Football Evolved: The Hurry-Up Offense And The Running Back". 19 August 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e Arch Ward (1936-12-28). "Remember Him? Willie Heston of Michigan, Whose Plunging Forced Opponents to Use Seven Man Line". Chicago Daily Tribune.
  8. ^ "Has Le'Veon Bell created a new rushing style?". NFL.com. January 17, 2017. Retrieved 2019.
  9. ^ O'Connell, Robert (September 6, 2018). "Darren Sproles Is Everything He Shouldn't Have Been". Deadspin. Retrieved 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Silverman, Steve. "Types of Football Running Backs". LIVESTRONG.COM. Retrieved .
  11. ^ Sims, Luke (2017-06-30). "Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette is about more than power". Black and Teal. Retrieved .
  12. ^ Halfback option at ecnext.com.
  13. ^ Halfback option play at football.com.

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