Ingridiron football, anend is a player who lines up at either end of theline of scrimmage, usually beside thetackles. Rules state that a legal offensive formation must always consist of seven players on the line of scrimmage and that the player on each end of the line is aneligible receiver who can catchforward passes. There are two types on offense: the split end, orwide out, and thetight end. On defense, the position name survives in the name of thedefensive end; in function, this position no longer corresponds to its offensive counterparts, which are defended more commonly by theedge rusher (which is sometimes a defensive end depending onformation) against the tight end and thecornerback against the split end.
It is also used in terminology such as anend run.
Before the advent oftwo platoons, in which teams fielded distinct defensive and offensive units, players that lined up on the ends of the line on both offense and defense were referred to simply as "ends". The position was used in this sense until roughly the 1960s.[1]
On offense, an end who lines up close to the other linemen is known as atight end and is the only lineman who aside from blocking can run or catch passes.[2] One who lines up some distance from the offensive line is known as a split end. In recent years and the proliferation of theforward pass, the termwide receiver covers both split ends and flankers (wide receivers who line up in split positions but behind the line of scrimmage). The terms "split end" and "flanker" are often replaced today with terms like "X" and "Z" receivers.[3]Bill Carpenter was the first "Lonesome end".
On defense, there is a commonly used position called thedefensive end or, more commonly in the 21st century, theedge rusher. Its primary role is to rush the passer,[2] as well as to stop offensive runs to the outer edges of the line of scrimmage (most often referred to as "containment"). However, as there are no rules regulating the formation of the defense, players at this position commonly take on and share multiple roles with other positions in different defensive schemes. The defensive counterpart to the split end is thecornerback, which, despite its name, usually lines up on or near the line of scrimmage and is technically an end.
Don Hutson of theAlabama Crimson Tide and theGreen Bay Packers is considered one of the sport's greatest at the end position.[1] The self-described "other end" opposite Hutson in college at Alabama was legendary coachBear Bryant.[4]Gaynell Tinsley was another prominent end of Hutson's time.[5]Amos Alonzo Stagg of Yale andArthur Cumnock of Harvard were ends on thefirst All-America team. Stagg went on to a Hall of Fame coaching career; some called Cumnock "the greatest Harvard player of all time."[6]Mike Ditka andRon Sellers were some of the last to play the position in college.Travis Hunter, drafted second overall in the2025 NFL draft, was the first two-way end (billed as wide receiver/cornerback) to be drafted in several decades, after a standout college career playing both sides of the ball full-time.[7]
