cornerback

A cornerback is a defensive back in gridiron football who lines up on the outside of the defensive formation. The primary duty is to cover wide receivers during passing plays and to prevent completed passes, occasionally providing run support when needed.

Cornerbacks may play man-to-man coverage, following a specific receiver, or zone coverage, in which they read the quarterback and react to receivers entering their area. They may press at the line of scrimmage or play off the receiver, and in nickel or dime packages they may cover the slot receiver as a slot corner or nickelback.

Key skills for the position include speed, agility, balance, hips and change of direction, strong ball skills and catching ability, and reliable tackling. Cornerbacks must read plays, mirror routes, and disrupt releases with jams when appropriate. Physical size varies, with many cornerbacks relying on technique and lateral quickness rather than brute strength.

The position carries penalties such as pass interference and illegal contact when a defender makes excessive contact with a receiver or otherwise violates the rules. Defensive holding is another possibility in certain situations.

As passing games have become more prevalent, the role of the cornerback has evolved to value versatile coverage ability across different receiver types. Top cornerbacks are typically judged by coverage success, ball production, and impact on games rather than tackles alone.