3–4 defense
Those three players are responsible for engaging the other team's offensive line, allowing the four linebackers to either rush the quarterback or drop back into coverage, depending on the situation.
As of 2025, NFL teams that regularly incorporate the 3–4 defensive alignment scheme as a base include the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the first team to win a Super Bowl with the 3–4 defense, going undefeated and using number 53, Bob Matheson, as a down lineman or rushing linebacker.
Matheson replaced defensive tackle Bob Heinz, shifting Manny Fernandez to nose guard.
In 1976, Oakland Raiders coach John Madden switched to the 3–4 after injuries decimated the team's defensive line.
The Raiders went 13–1 in the regular season and defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.
The Dolphins shifted full-time to the 3–4 under Arnsparger in 1977, with Bob Baumhower anchoring the defense as a perennial All-Pro nose tackle.
[2] It is believed that the Steelers' success with the 3–4 defense is the primary reason why many NFL teams have started returning to the formation.
Also notable several years later, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew, the defensive unit for the 1986 New York Giants who won Super Bowl XXI, was a 3–4 defense and featured all-time great Lawrence Taylor at right outside linebacker and fellow Hall of Famer Harry Carson on the inside.
Linemen in 3–4 schemes tend to be larger than their 4–3 counterparts to take up more space and guard more territory along the defensive front.
[5] Albert Breer noted, "In general, ideal front-seven players in the 3–4 are bigger and need to take on and defeat blocks more often in the running game.
If a running play comes through one of those gaps, he must make the tackle or control what is called the "jump-through"—the guard or center who is trying to get out to the linebackers.
The Will typically is the more athletic linebacker, who can blitz, drop into coverage, play the run, and "spy" the quarterback.
But in a 3–4, the fourth rusher is usually a linebacker, though many teams use a safety to blitz and confuse the coverage, giving them more defensive options in the same 3–4 look.
The 3–4 linebackers must be very athletic and strong enough to shed blocks by fullbacks, tight ends, and offensive linemen to get to the running back.
A corner will be given one of two ways to defend the pass (with variations that result in more or less the same responsibilities): zone and man coverage.
The free safety is responsible for reading the offensive plays and covering deep passes.
He provides the last line of defense against running backs and receivers who get past the linebackers and cornerbacks.
He must be a quick and smart player, capable of making tackles efficiently as well as reading the play and alerting his team of game situations.
If the guard moves left, he attacks downhill (perpendicular to the line of scrimmage) and "shoots his gap."
