In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs) are the defensive players furthest from the line of scrimmage, distinct from the defensive linemen and linebackers. The two main DB types are cornerbacks, who cover wide receivers, and safeties, who serve as the last line of defense. In Canadian football, there’s an extra position, the defensive halfback. Teams sometimes substitute additional defensive backs like the nickelback and dimeback for more pass coverage. Legendary DBs include Deion Sanders and Ed Reed. The NFL honored top DBs in its all-time team for its 100th anniversary, and Gil Brandt ranked the greatest cornerbacks.
See also
- Defensive Specialist (arena football)
- American football positions
References
"Defensive Back - DB Definition - Sporting Charts". www.sportingcharts.com. http://www.sportingcharts.com/dictionary/nfl/defensive-back-db.aspx ↩
"The Positions in a Football Secondary - dummies". dummies.com. http://www.dummies.com/sports/football/defense/the-positions-in-a-football-secondary/ ↩
"NFL 100 All-Time Team defensive backs, special teams revealed". NFL.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-100-all-time-team-defensive-backs-special-teams-revealed-0ap3000001084675 ↩
"Gil Brandt's greatest NFL cornerbacks of all time". NFL.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19. https://www.nfl.com/photos/gil-brandt-s-greatest-nfl-cornerbacks-of-all-time-0ap3000000815951 ↩