Tackle (gridiron football position)

Not to be confused withTackle (football move)orDefensive tackle.

Atackleis a playing position inAmerican football.Historically, in theone-platoon systemprevalent in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a tackle played on both offense anddefense.In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle anddefensive tackleare separate positions, and the stand-alone term "tackle" refers to the offensive tackle position only. Theoffensive tackle(OT,T), sometimes specified asleft tackle(LT) orright tackle(RT), is a position on theoffensive linethat flanks the twoguards.Like otheroffensive linemen,their objective is toblockduring each offensive play: physically preventing defenders fromtacklingor disrupting the offensive ball carrier with the intention of advancing the footballdownfield.

Khalif Barnes,an offensive tackle for theOakland Raiders(No. 69 in black jersey on right) in a 2012 game against theMiami Dolphins

The positioning of the offensive tackles in a formation

A tackle is the strong position on the offensive line. They power their blocks with quick steps and maneuverability. The tackles are mostly in charge of the outside protection. Usually they defend againstdefensive ends,but they do also have to defend againstdefensive tackles,especially if the corresponding guard on their sidepulls.In theNFL,offensive tackles often measure over 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) and 300 lb (140 kg). Offensive tackles are generally the tallest and heaviest players in football.

According toSports Illustratedfootball journalistPaul Zimmerman,offensive tackles consistently achieve the highest scores, relative to the other positional groups, on theWonderlic Test,with an average of 26.The Wonderlic is taken before the draft to assess each player's aptitude for learning and problem solving.

The distinction between right and left tackle has become less relevant.

Right tackle

Theright tackle(RT) is typically one of the team's most effective run blockers.Since most running plays are directed towards the strong side (the side with thetight end) of the offensive line, the right tackle often contends with the defending team's best run stoppers. They must be capable of gaining traction in their blocks to impede defenders from tackling the ball carrier or create a hole—an area between offensive lineman that forms immediately after the ball issnapped.This is a result of blocking strategies and techniques, generating enough space for the ball carrier to run between and advance the ball.

Left tackle

Theleft tackle(LT) is usually the team's best pass blocker.Of the two tackles, the left tackles will often have better footwork and agility than the right tackle in order to counteract the pass rush of defensive ends. When a quarterback throws aforward pass,the quarterback's shoulders are aligned roughly perpendicular to theline of scrimmage,with the non-dominant shoulder closer to downfield. The vast majority of quarterbacks are right-handed, so they turn their backs to defenders coming from the left side, creating a vulnerable "blind side" that the left tackle must protect. (Conversely, teams with left-handed quarterbacks tend to have their better pass blockers at right tackle for the same reason.)

A 2006 book byMichael Lewis,The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game,made into a2009 motion picture,shed light on the workings of the left tackle position. The book and the film's introduction discuss how the annual salary of left tackles in the NFL skyrocketed in the mid-1990s. Premier left tackles are now highly sought after and are often the second highest paid players on a roster after the quarterback; in the2013 NFL draftthree of the first four picks were left tackles, and usually at least one left tackle is picked in the first five positions.Recent examples includeJoe Alt(2024, 5th overall pick),Andrew Thomas(2020, 4th overall pick),Brandon Scherff(2015, 5th overall pick),Eric Fisher(2013, 1st overall pick),Luke Joeckel(2013, 2nd overall pick),Lane Johnson(2013, 4th overall pick),Matt Kalil(2012, 4th overall pick),Trent Williams(2010, 4th overall pick), andJake Long(2008, 1st overall pick).