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In [[American football]], a '''nickelback''' is a [[cornerback]] or [[safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] who serves as the additional [[defensive back]] in a [[nickel defense]]. A base defense consists of two cornerbacks and two safeties, making the nickelback the fifth defensive back on the field, thus tying the name of the position to the name of the North American [[nickel (United States coin)|5-cent piece]].
The nickelback is the third cornerback or safety on the [[depth chart]]. Usually the nickelback will take the place of a [[linebacker]], so if the team had been in a [[4–3 defense|4–3]] formation, the four [[defensive line]]men would remain, alongside only two linebackers and now-five defensive backs, creating a [[4-2-5]] formation. However, some teams will replace a lineman rather than a linebacker, creating a three -linemen, three -linebacker and five -defensive back alignment, a [[3–3–5 defense|3–3–5]] formation. If an offensive team always uses three or more [[wide receiver]]s, a defense may turn to a nickel defense for their base package on most plays. Usually extra defensive backs, such as a nickelback, are substituted into the defense in situations where the opposing offense is likely to attempt a [[forward pass]], such as 3rd-and-long, or when extra receivers are substituted into the opposing offense. In other cases, the nickelback must also be able to tackle in the open field in run situations, and as such, the position can be considered a hybrid run/pass defender,<ref name="33rd team ref">{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Britton |date=2021-12-27 |title=Nickel Package Explained: Defensive Personnel Trends in the NFL |url=https://www.the33rdteam.com/nickel-package-explained-defensive-personnel-trends-in-the-nfl/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=The 33rd Team |language=en-US}}</ref> and in some cases, even a pass rusher from outside the box.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}
The nickelback is the third cornerback or safety on the [[depth chart]]. The nickelback is generally not considered a starting position because the starting formations for most defenses are either a 3-4 or a 4–3, in which only two cornerbacks and two safeties are utilized. Defensive formations with three or more cornerbacks (or three safeties) are used often enough that a nickelback will usually see moderate playing time (particularly in the modern, pass-oriented NFL) as well as subbing in for the starting corners. Some Inteams, certainsuch packagesas (orthe if[[Sean injuriesMcDermott]]-coached depleted[[Buffalo theBills]], depthuse chart)a base nickel defense, smallerwith freeslot safetiescorner or[[Taron strongJohnson]] safetiesserving canas filla consistent starter on the spotBills ofdue nickelback,to asthis wellphilosophy. Other Theirnotable roledefensive maybacks becomeknown thatfor ofplaying ain passthe rusherslot frominclude outside[[Elijah theMolden]] boxand [[Michael Carter II]].<ref name="33rd team ref" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Jets agree to three-year extension with CB Michael Carter II|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jets-agree-to-three-year-extension-with-cb-michael-carter-ii|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=September 3, 2024}}</ref>
In [[Canadian football]] or [[CFL]], where five defensive backs are considered the norm, the position is known as a [[Halfback (Canadian football)|defensive halfback]].
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