The role of the off-ball linebacker in the modern NFL is one of the more fascinating positions to contemplate.
Are they a dying breed? At first blush one might think so. Last season, like other seasons before it, 11 offensive personnel was the predominant offensive package, as teams combined to run with three wide receivers on 60% of all offensive snaps in 2020. That has led to a rise of sub packages on the defensive side of the football, as defensive coordinators turn to nickel and dime packages to get more defensive backs onto the field.
But history has told us that football is a game of cycles, and often what is old becomes new again. Some offenses have started moving in a different direction, relying more on 12 or 21 personnel. Minnesota, New England, San Francisco, Cleveland and Tennessee are such examples. And as coordinators from those organizations move on to new teams — such as Arthur Smith now moving to Atlanta — that philosophy could spread.
Which could see the importance of the off-ball linebacker increase in the years to come, as defenses adjust once more.
While we wait for that day, here’s a look at the best in the game today.