Football Gunner
Definition
A gunner is a player on the special teams who stands close to the sidelines on a kicking play. Gunners are responsible for tackling the returner on punting plays.
Gunners are lightning fast and have an ability to pass blockers on the opposing team to reach the returner. Gunners usually run on the sidelines of the field immediately when the ball is kicked to get to the returner as soon as possible. They can begin running as soon as the ball is kicked, trying to evade the other team’s blockers.
Gunner Responsibilities
In the best case scenario, a gunner will tackle the returner or force them to signal for a fair catch on a kickoff or punt. They will need to get down the field as quickly as possible and evade opposing blockers. Gunners must make sure to not touch the returner if they have signaled for a fair catch. If a player on the kicking team makes contact with the returner after they have signaled a fair catch, a penalty will be called.
Gunners also play positions like defensive backs, running backs, or even wide receivers when they’re not gunners. This means that a player typically does not play only gunner.
Gunner Skills
Gunners are known for “gunning” it down the field, meaning that these players have to be some of the fastest athletes on the field. However, a gunner’s course down the field is not usually linear. He has to run a lot of ground in a very short time, so he has to be fast on his feet and agile enough to change directions in an instant.
They must be strong enough to perform tackles on the returner. These kicking plays only last a few moments, but they can be the deciding factor and make or break a game.
Jammers
A jammer is a player on the special teams that counters the gunner. During a return, jammers are on the receiving team and are responsible for stopping gunners from tackling the returner. Sometimes, a team will assign two jammers to a single gunner. This is because the gunner is so quick that it often requires more than one player to stop him. Jammers try to get the ball and run it back down the field for a touchdown.
FAQ
What is a gunner in football?
In football, a gunner is a player on the special teams who stands close to the sidelines on a kicking play. Once the ball has been kicked, a gunner’s main responsibility is to run down the field and tackle the returner, the position player on the other team responsible for returning kicks by the gunner’s team.
What does a gunner do in football?
The main responsibility of a gunner is to tackle the other team’s returner. As soon as the ball is snapped, the gunners run down the sides of the field. If they are able to avoid the team’s blockers, they will tackle the returner and stop potential yardage from being gained. Gunners are a key part of the special teams’ success during a kicking play.
What is a jammer in football?
A jammer in football is a type of player that is responsible for slowing down the gunner on punts. The gunner is lined up where a wide receiver would typically line up and is responsible for running down the field to tackle the punt returner. Jammers will block the gunners near the line of scrimmage, much like cornerbacks, making sure not to take any penalties.