Football Offensive Line: 6 Positions (& What They Do)

The offensive line is perhaps the most important group of guys on a football field. Without them, the quarterback doesn’t have time to throw before getting sacked, and the running back doesn’t have anywhere to run before getting overwhelmed. We’re really not being dramatic—a good offensive line wins games on their own. Here, we’ll take a look at each position on the line, and cover what they do and what makes them unique so that you can fully appreciate what’s going on the next time you watch (or play!) a game.

Football Offensive Line Positions Diagram

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An illustration of the offensive line in football, including where each lineman lines up.

The offensive line is arguably the most important squad on the field, since you can only pass or run the ball effectively if the line holds the defenders off to give you time to do things. The positions on the line are:

Left Tackle
Left Guard
Center
Right Tackle
Right Guard
Tight End (Sometimes)

1

Left Tackle

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The most important pass blocker. Since most quarterbacks are right-handed, the left side of the line is known as the “blind side,” as quarterbacks often aren’t able to see what’s going on behind them. As a result, defenses tend to put their best attackers on the blind side—the theory being that quarterbacks will have less time to respond. So, the left tackle is often the most physically impressive player on the offensive line. They are fast, strong, and have to be able to stop the best blitzers on the opposing team.^{[1]
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- Shorthand for the position: LT
- Location on the line: Furthest on the left (if there’s no TE).
- Key requirements: LTs must be strong, big, and fast. The more of a physical freak, the better. They also have to be very smart, since identifying the attack is a big part of their job.
- Famous examples: Anthony Muñoz, Joe Thomas, Walter Jones, Trent Williams
- Defensive counterpart: Defensive End or Defensive Tackle

2

Left Guard

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The workhorse on the blind side. Guards are the most likely position to “pull,” where they leave their position and run somewhere else to block on another side of the field. Since run plays tend to tilt towards the right, the left guard is often the most likely to get pulled. As a result, left guards have to be quick on their feet. They also have to be big enough to block the biggest guys on the defense though, so a combination of speed and strength is key.^{[2]
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- Shorthand for the position: LG
- Location on the line: Second from the left.
- Key requirements: LGs have to be fast, but really big and strong. Their push-off skills and ability to push defenders out of the way for runners is key.
- Famous examples: Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, Alan Faneca, Bruce Matthews
- Defensive counterpart: Defensive Tackle or Nose Guard

3

Center

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The general of the offensive line. The center directs everything and makes sure everyone is on the same page, notes D1 & professional football player Coach Ax. They observe everything, call out the protection, and snap the ball (pass it to the quarterback). So, the center is also constantly communicating with the quarterback, Coach Ax adds.^{[3]
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Coach Ax
D1 & Professional Football Player and Coach

Expert Interview} It’s awesome if they’re also a great blocker, but a team can get by if they aren’t so long as they secure the ball and run the offensive line efficiently.^{[4]
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- A good center can often make up for weaker linemen by adjusting blocking assignments and calling out audibles on the line, and a good center-quarterback relationship is essential if a team is going to win.
- Shorthand for the position: C
- Location on the line: The middle. They start each play with the ball.
- Key requirements: The C must be wise, intelligent, observant, vocal, and judicious. It helps if they’re big and strong enough to stop an attack nose guard, too.
- Famous examples: Jim Otto, Mel Hein, Mike Webster, Jason Kelce
- Defensive counterpart: Nose Guard

4

Right Guard

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The run-blocking expert. Running plays skew to the quarterback’s strong side, so the right guard must be an exceptional run blocker who can push opponents back and create holes for their runners. They’re often the most skilled blocker in terms of technique on a line, and they need excellent footwork, too.^{[5]
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- Shorthand for the position: RG
- Location on the line: To the direct right of the center.
- Key requirements: RGs must be quick, strong, and good on their feet. Their run blocking skills are especially important.
- Famous examples: Zack Martin, Larry Little, Will Shields, Chris Lindstrom
- Defensive counterpart: Defensive Tackle or Nose Guard

5

Right Tackle

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The mobile big man. Since defenses will often try to catch offenses off-guard by swapping blind side attacks and strong side attacks, the right tackle has to be able to stop the best pass attackers in the game. They also have to be an elite run blocker though, as any outside plays to the right require a lot of moving on the right tackle’s part.^{[6]
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- Shorthand for the position: RT
- Location on the line: The end of the right side of the line (if there’s no TE).
- Key requirements: RTs must be fast, big, and able to adjust. They’re often the best improvisers on the line, as they’re asked to do radically different things from play to play.
- Famous examples: Penei Sewell, Lane Johnson, Forest Gregg, Rayfield Wright
- Defensive counterpart: Defensive End or Defensive Tackle

6

Tight End

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The big blocker who can run a route. Tight ends are part-time linemen. Sometimes, they’re running routes like wide receivers, and then other times they’re on the line blocking defenders. They’re the most flexible position on the field, and while they can line up like a wide receiver off the line, they’re almost always positioned on the outside of a tackle. Different teams use different TEs in distinct ways, so sometimes they’re basically extra tackles and sometimes they’re not.^{[7]
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- Shorthand for the position: TE
- Location on the line: At the very end of the line, either on the left or right (or both, if there are two TEs on the field, which is common).
- Key requirements: TEs must be fast, strong, and have good hands
- Famous examples: Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, John Mackey
- Defensive counterpart: Linebacker or Safety

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In the NFL, linemen are often so talented and experienced that they can swap sides without giving up much of a disadvantage, so you’ll often see teams move a left guard to right guard, or right tackle to left tackle, etc. This keeps defenses on their toes, and it allows teams to give exhausted linemen breathers. It’s also common to do this if someone is injured and you have a backup who can’t play either side as well.

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There are two common blocking schemes in football for the line: zone, and man-to-man. In man-to-man, each lineman is assigned a specific player to block. In zone, players are required to block any attacker in a specific area. The center is often in control over which coverage type occurs, but zone is more common for pass plays while man-to-man is more common when you’re running the ball.

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