What is the hardest position in football and why is it considered the most difficult to play?

What is the hardest position in football and why is it considered the most difficult to play?

Helix Odhiambo
updated at June 12, 2023 at 10:20 AM

American football is one of the most exciting sports to watch. It attracts millions of fans globally because of its fast pace and the quality of players and teams competing in various competitions. The game is played between two teams of 11 players each on the field. There are several playing spots to occupy, ranging from offensive to defensive. What is the hardest position in football?

What is the most-hardest position in football?
Philadelphia Eagles players and Kansas City Chiefs footballers battle for the ball during their Super Bowl LVII on 12 February 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Photo: Adam Bow
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The quarterback, edge rusher, and cornerback are some of the most valuable playing spots. But what is the hardest position to play in American football? The best athletes in these positions play in the National Football League (NFL), the highest and most popular football league in the United States. It consists of 32 teams divided into two conferences.

What is the hardest position to play in football?

Every footballer is essential for a team's success. Here is a breakdown of some of the common playing positions in American football and their uniqueness.

Offensive players

What is the hardest position to play in American football?
Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during their NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on 8 January 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Photo: Rich von Biberstein
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The roles of offensive players are advancing the ball down the field and gaining field position. They also help carry the ball into the end zone. They include quarterback, running back, fullback, offensive line, wide receiver, and Tight End.

Quarterback (QB)

The quarterback is the leader of the offensive line. They often call the plays and can pass the ball to a receiver or hand it off to the running back.

Running Back (RB)

Their primary role is to carry the ball on rushing plays in American football. A good RB must be fast, explosive, and have great body strength.

Fullback (FB)

Hardest positions in football ranked
Cleveland Browns linebacker Tony Fields II (on the ground) tackles New Orleans Saints fullback Adam Prentice (46) during the first quarter of the National Football League game on 24 December 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Photo: Frank Jansky
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A fullback operates behind the middle of the line. The FB runs and blocks open holes on running plays. They also occasionally catch short passes.

Offensive Line

It is one of the most essential spots in a team. Offensive linemen can play in the left tackle (LT), left guard (LG), centre (C), right guard (RG) and right tackle (RT) from left to right. They help to block and allow the quarterback to choose the play to run.

Wide Receivers (WR)

What is the hardest position in the NFL?
LA Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) hauls in a 44-yard catch against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis (24) during their NFC Divisional game at Raymond James Stadium on 23 January 2022 in Tampa Bay, Florida. Photo: Gina Ferazzi
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Wide receivers are usually fast and light. Their role is to catch passes from quarterbacks. Some double up as blockers.

Tight End (TE)

Tight end is one of the most versatile positions in football. They are a combination of a receiver and an offensive lineman. A player must have athleticism, toughness, size and pass-catching ability to excel as a tight end in the field.

Defensive players

Defensive footballers play the role of shutting down the opponent's offence and securing good field positions. They include defensive line, linebacker, cornerback, and safety.

Defensive Line

What is the hardest position to play in football?
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Calvin Throckmorton (76) blocks Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) during the second half of the National Football League game on 1 January 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Photo: Gregory Fisher
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The defensive line usually consists of three or four players (defensive tackles, defensive ends) lining up in front of the offensive line. They eliminate the offensive linemen's blocks and tackle opponents carrying the ball.

Linebacker (LB)

Linebackers play as backup to the defensive line. Depending on their tactical formation, a team may have three or four players in this position on the field.

Cornerback (CB)

Cornerbacks guard against the offensive team. They are usually two players who also cover wide receivers in the field.

Safety (S)

Which role is important in football?
Indianapolis Colts safety Daniel Scott (31) runs through a drill during the Indianapolis Colts rookie camp practice on 6 May 2023 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis. Photo: Zach Bolinger
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Good safeties must be fast and strong since they serve as the last line of defence. There is Strong Safety (SS) and Free Safety (FS).

Which role is important in football?

NFL quarterbacks play the most crucial role in football. They dictate the game, lead the offence and always get in the spotlight. Legendary quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Jonny Unitas are among the greatest NFL footballers in history.

Is quarterback the hardest position in football?

Quarterback is the most crucial position in the sport but not the hardest. Defensive roles like cornerback and left tackle are stronger than quarterback.

What is the hardest position in football on defence?

What is the strongest role in football?
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon (L) attempts to manoeuvre past Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (R) during their Super Bowl LVII game on 12 February 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ. Photo: Nick Tre. Smith
Source: Getty Images

Cornerback is the most challenging position on defence. It is also one of the most difficult areas to play. Their role is crucial to the team's success.

What is the hardest position in football on offence?

Quarterback is the hardest position on offence. Others in the category are Tight end and offensive guard. To succeed in these areas, a footballer needs unique skills.

What is the most-hardest position in football?

Cornerback is the hardest position in American football. It is also one of the most difficult areas to play. Great cornerbacks have a steel spirit, outstanding high speed, insight on the ball, and intelligence.

Many consider former Atlanta Falcons star Deion Sanders the greatest cornerback in NFL history. Sanders spent 16 years in the NFL. Other top names who excelled in the position include Rod Woodson, Darrelle Revis, and Mel Blount.

What is the second hardest position in football?

Is quarterback the hardest position in football?
The left side of the Miami Dolphins offensive line waits for the snap during their game against Minnesota Vikings on 16 October 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL. Photo: Peter Joneleit
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The offensive linemen left tackle is the second hardest area to operate. Most quarterbacks are right-handed and often expose the left side when they drop back to pass. Therefore, the left tackle gets more duties, like blocking an opponent from reaching the quarterback and blocking massive defensive tackles on running plays.

What is the hardest position in the NFL?

The most demanding job in the NFL is playing as a cornerback. It requires exceptional speed, quickness, and agility when facing the fastest players on the offence, the wide receivers, like Michigan defensive back DJ Turner II.

Turner set a record for 40-yard dash time (4.26 seconds) at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, making him a nightmare to the defence. Here is a list of the top five hardest positions in football ranked in order from the most to the least.

  • Cornerback
  • Left tackle
  • Quarterback
  • Centre
  • Middle linebacker

Easiest role in NFL

What is the second hardest position in football?
Oakland Raiders running backs Josh Jacobs (28), Jalen Richard (30) and Alec Ingold (45) having fun before their AFC West game against Kansas City Chiefs on 1 December 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. Photo: Scott Winters
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Running back is a relatively easy position to play on the football field compared to other areas. It is less complicated and easy to master. A young running back will have the easiest time adapting to the role.

Highest-paid positions

Quarterbacks top the list of salaries in the NFL. According to 2023 sources, the average salary of the top 10 quarterbacks is $40 million annually. Wide receivers are second with an average of $23 million, followed by edge rushers with $20 million on average. Offensive lines earn an average of $19.8 million, while defensive tackles get an average of $18.1 million.

What is the strongest role in football?

The offensive line requires huge and strong footballers. It is a position where some of the most powerful and skilled athletes thrive. An offensive lineman should have intelligence, toughness, work ethic, good character, and athletic ability.

What is the hardest position in football? Cornerback is the hardest in the NFL, but not the toughest. It is, however, a position that pays less compared to others like the quarterback.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.