Picture Credit: All-Pro Reels
The game of football features some of the most distinct positions in sports. The role of one player may have no overlap whatsoever with the role of another. In this context, debates always seem to arise about which positions are more challenging than others. You can find a variety of takes on this topic, but I’ve listed the five most difficult positions in football.
5. Running Back
Running backs find a spot on this list due to the versatile demands of playing the position. A running back is expected to be proficient at running between the tackles, running outside, protecting the quarterback, and working as a receiver. Very few players can master each component of the position, so most teams employ a “running back by committee” strategy.
4. Off-Ball Linebacker
You may have heard it said that the middle linebacker is “the quarterback of the defense.” Linebackers are commonly tasked with communicating the defensive play call to the rest of the unit and making pre-play adjustments. They have to be physical enough to fit gaps in the run game yet mobile enough to move sideline to sideline against outside runs or passing concepts. The top linebackers in football are some of the most versatile athletes in the world.
3. Offensive Tackle
I would consider defensive end one of the easiest positions to play. So, it stands to reason that their counterparts, the offensive tackles, would earn a spot as one of the most difficult positions in football. In pass protection, offensive tackles are tasked with stopping some of the most physically dominant humans on the planet from reaching a spot just a few feet away, all while moving backward.
2. Cornerback
The job of the NFL cornerback is nearly impossible. On a given pass play, a wide receiver has about 1,500 square yards to work with. He knows where he’s going. The cornerback tasked with sticking with him every step of the way does not. As a result, even some of the most talented cornerbacks in the sport have trouble producing quality results year in and year out.
1. Quarterback
In my opinion, there is little doubt what the most difficult position in the sport is. While quarterback may not be the most physically demanding position, it requires a larger mental load than any other. At the NFL level, the quarterback has to make split-second decisions for pre-play adjustments or where to throw the ball on nearly every play. Two or three wrong decisions, and the game may be lost. This is why players like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are so highly valued.
