Are you tired of being confused watching NFL and when commentator says 'fullback' and you have no idea what they're talking about?
Do you constantly mix up halfbacks and fullbacks and end up looking like a complete buffoon in front of your friends?
Fear not, my confused football fan, for we are here to clear up the age-old mystery of the difference between a fullback (FB) and a halfback (HB) in the NFL!
So what is the difference between fullback and halfback in American football?
Fullback is mainly used for blocking tasks and the halfback is the main ball carrier (runner). In the standard offensive formation, the fullback is placed directly behind the quarterback, while the halfback is positioned behind the fullback. Halfback is the main ball carrier, while fullback is blocking.
Now that we defined the main difference, let's have a closer look at each football position.
There are a couple of main and secondary responsibilities when it comes to fullbacks in American football.
Some of them include:
It is also worth to note a few ways they differentiate from hallfbacks.
Fullbacks usually have a more substantial build than halfbacks. In offensive plays, fullbacks are tasked with multiple roles like running with power, catching passes, and protecting both the quarterback and other running backs by blocking.
Interesting: Hey pssst! Do you want to hear something interesting? Fullbacks are used much less frequently in recent years in NFL.
To recognise halfback in American football, there are a few main responsibilities that they must do:
As I described before, halfbacks tend to be smaller and much quicker than fullbacks. They are more agile, so they are able to run through even smallest spaces. That's why some of the best halfbacks have a good instinct. They see a small hole and they exploit it!
Interesting: Are you wondering if American football is popular in Europe? Read here!
That was pretty informative article huh? 🙂
Just to give you a small summary in case you are in hurry: