Making The Move To Linebacker

Jun 11, 2025

Players change positions ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes it works out great.

Sometimes it doesn’t.

They key is knowing what to focus on when making the transition.

Here are a couple thoughts on MOVING to Linebacker.

Moving from DB to LB

This might be the easiest transition of all.

You’re already an off-the-ball defender.

You already have speed, instincts, and you understand coverage.

Now you need to work on reading plays, attacking blockers with great leverage, and making tackles inside the box.

If you can do those things, you can play Linebacker.

In my opinion, this transition is a little tougher.

This is because of three main factors:

Once you back up off the Line of Scrimmage to play Linebacker, your world expands.

You need to train your EYES and learn how to read and react to plays.

Also, you need to learn how to move like a Linebacker.

This includes lateral movements and even backpedals.

Finally, you need to learn all about pass coverage.

This transition can be done.

It just takes some work.

This one is interesting.

A Running Back already has the right size and speed to play Linebacker.

Now it’s a mindset shift.

As a Running Back you spend a lot of time avoiding contact, but as a Linebacker you’ll need to create contact.

You’ll also need to work on reads, angles, and leverage.

You might already look like a Linebacker, but you’ll need to put in some work to become a Linebacker.

Football players are football players.

As I said earlier, position moves happen all the time.

You can find success, as long as you focus on the right things.

And any player transitioning to Linebacker should check out THE LB LAB.

It’ll walk you through all the basics.

Learn more here.

All the best,

Jon Svec
Defensive Coordinator
St. Francis Xavier University
X-Men Football
Email: jsvec@stfx.ca
Twitter: @jonsvecx

Find more Linebacker resources here.