Gunner (American football)

The NFL Pro Bowl features a "Special Teamer" position, along with a kicker, punter, and kick returner.

[4] Pro Bowler Bill Bates of the 1980s–1990s Dallas Cowboys was a well known gunner, known for daredevil plays.

These two eligible receivers on the kicking team―the gunners―are allowed to start running down the field as soon as the ball is snapped.

[2] In the best case, they get there just before the ball and make the other team afraid to try to return it, leading to a fair catch.

If there is only one defender lined up on each gunner, then the receiving team has extra players rushing the punter, and they hope to block the punt.