In American football, a nickelback is a cornerback who serves as the fifth (in addition to the typical four) defensive back on the defense. A base defense contains four defensive backs, consisting of two cornerbacks, and two safeties. Adding an extra back makes five, hence the term "nickel", which is the name for 5-cent coins in the United States and Canada. Usually the nickelback will take the place of a linebacker, so if the team were to be in a 4–3 formation, there would now be four linemen, only two linebackers and five defensive backs creating a 4-2-5 formation. However, some teams will replace a lineman rather than a linebacker, creating a three linemen, three linebacker and five defensive back alignment, a 3–3–5 formation. If an offensive team always uses three or more wide receivers, a defense may turn to a nickel defense for their base package on most plays. Usually extra defensive backs, such as a nickelback, are substituted into the defense in situations where the opposing offense is likely to attempt a forward pass, such as 3rd-and-long, or when extra receivers are substituted into the opposing offense.
The nickelback is the usually third cornerback on the depth chart, although sometimes one of the starting corners will play the nickel if they are particularly adept at playing the run. The nickelback is not considered a starting position because the starting formation for a defense has only two cornerbacks. Defensive formations with three or more cornerbacks are used often enough that a nickelback will usually see moderate playing time (particularly in the modern, pass-oriented NFL) as well as subbing in for the starting corners.
Positions in American football and Canadian football |
Offense |
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Defense |
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Special teams |
Linemen |
Guard, Tackle, Center |
Linemen |
Tackle, End, Nose tackle |
Kicking players |
Placekicker, Punter, Kickoff specialist |
Quarterback |
Linebackers |
Snapping |
Long snapper, Holder |
Backs |
Halfback (Tailback), Fullback, H-back |
Backs |
Cornerback, Safety, Halfback |
Returning |
Punt returner, Kick returner |
Receivers |
Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback |
Nickelback, Dimeback |
Tackling |
Gunner |
Formations — Nomenclature |
Gridiron football concepts
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Codes |
- American
- Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
- Arena
- Indoor
- 9-man
- 8-man
- 6-man
- Flag
- Touch
- Street/Backyard
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Levels of play |
- High school
- College
- Sprint
- Women's
- Professional
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Field |
- End zone
- Goal line
- Red zone
- Line of scrimmage
- Neutral zone
- Field goal range
- Out of bounds
- Sidelines
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Equipment |
- Football (ball)
- Helmet
- Shoulder pads
- Uniform number
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Positions |
Offense |
- Quarterback
- Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back)
- Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback)
- Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)
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Defense |
- Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle)
- Linebacker
- Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)
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Special teams |
- Placekicker
- Punter
- Kickoff specialist
- Long snapper
- Holder
- Punt returner
- Kickoff returner
- Return specialist
- Gunner
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Other |
- Utility player
- Triple-threat man
- Skill position
- Game manager
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Play types |
Offense |
- Rush
- Pass
- Incomplete pass
- Lateral
- Bootleg play
- Draw play
- End-around
- Flea flicker
- Flexbone formation
- Fourth down conversion
- Hail Mary pass
- Halfback option play
- Hook and lateral
- Kneel
- Motion
- Hurry-up offense
- Option run
- Option offense
- Play-action pass
- Quarterback keeper
- Quarterback sneak
- Quick kick
- Reverse
- Scramble
- Screen pass
- Spike
- Statue of Liberty
- Sweep
- Tackle-eligible
- Trick play
- Wildcat formation
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Defense |
- Tackle
- Blitz
- Rush
- Sack
- Shooting the gap
- Stunt
- Zone blitz
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Special teams |
- Kickoff
- Kickoff return
- Punt
- Punt return
- Drop kick
- Fair catch
- Fair catch kick
- Icing the kicker
- Onside kick
- Squib kick
- Conversion
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Scoring |
- Touchdown
- Point after touchdown
- Two-point conversion
- Field goal
- Safety
- Single (rouge)
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Penalties |
- Blocking below the waist
- Block in the back
- Chop block
- Clipping
- Delay of game
- Encroachment
- Equipment violations
- Face mask
- False start
- Helmet-to-helmet collision
- Horse-collar tackle
- Illegal contact
- Illegal formation
- Illegal forward kick
- Illegal forward pass
- Illegal hands to the face
- Illegal motion
- Illegal participation
- Illegal shift
- Illegal substitution
- Illegal touching
- Illegal touching of a free kick
- Illegal use of hands
- Ineligible receiver downfield
- Intentional grounding
- Holding
- Leaping
- Neutral zone infraction
- Offside
- Palpably unfair act
- Pass interference
- Personal foul
- Roughing the kicker
- Roughing the passer
- Roughing the snapper
- Sideline infraction
- Spearing
- Time count
- Tripping
- Unsportsmanlike conduct
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Turnovers |
- Fumble
- Interception
- Muffed punt
- Turnover on downs
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Downs |
- First down
- Three-and-out
- Fourth down conversion
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Play clock |
- Timeout
- One-minute warning
- Two-minute warning
- Three-minute warning
- Running out the clock
- Untimed play
- Garbage time
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Statistics |
- Carry
- Rushing yards
- Passing yards
- Passer rating
- Reception
- Receiving yards
- Return yards
- Total offense
- Yards from scrimmage
- All-purpose yardage
- Touchdown pass
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Celebrations |
- Touchdown celebration
- Gatorade shower
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Officiating |
- Officials
- Penalty flag
- Chain crew
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Miscellaneous |
- Snap
- Dead ball
- Touchback
- Instant replay
- Coffin corner
- Resting the starters
- Glossary of American football
- Glossary of Canadian football
- Rules
- Rules in American football
- California playoff
- Concussions in American football
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