What is a 'linebacker'?

What is a 'linebacker'?

Darrin Chiaverini (Football Coach and Professional Athlete) gives expert video advice on: What is a 'defensive tackle'?; What is a 'defensive end'?; What is a 'nose tackle'? and more...

A linebacker is, if you're the mic linebacker, which is called the middle line backer, he lines up easy behind the nose tackle and he's the quarterback on the defense. Middle linebacker's job is to make checks. When ever a quarterback checks protection, his job is to check the defense. If he knows that the quarterback is going to check to a run, he'll check the defense as far as many blitzing one of the backers. So the middle linebacker is definitely the quarterback of defense.