What Is A Football Gunner?

If you like to live on the edge and are not afraid of full-speed body contact, playing the gunner position in football just may be for you. It is a specialized position, and these are the attributes you need: strength, speed and, most important -- fearlessness.

Making Contact

Football is a contact sport like no other, but playing the gunner position takes the physical nature of the game to its highest level. The gunner plays only when his team is kicking or punting the football to the opposition. The gunner has only one goal: get to the kick returner first and make the tackle. That is often easier said than done.

For Kicks

When a team kicks off, the gunner lines up close to the sideline. By staying away from the middle of the field, you will encounter less congestion and have a more direct path to the football. But the return team often lines up two blockers on the gunner, so you need to fight through that obstacle. It can take either brute strength or great finesse to accomplish this goal, followed by good speed and stamina to get to the kick returner and make the tackle.

For Punts

The gunner also lines up on the sideline for punts. While the rest of the punting team blocks before heading down the field, you take off as soon as the ball is snapped. As on kickoff returns, you are likely to face two blockers. If you can go around or break through and get to the punt returner fast enough, you can force a fair catch and there will be no return. If, however, the punt returner boldly decides to catch the football with little or no room to maneuver, you are in position to hit him hard, make a tackle and possibly force a fumble.

The Profile

Is playing the gunner position for you? If you answer yes to most or all of these questions, put the helmet on and give it a try. Can you run fast enough down the football field to reach the kickoff or punt returner before anyone else does? Are you strong enough to take on as many as two blockers in order to make the play? Can you tackle well enough to bring down the returner if he is already running at full speed when you reach him? If so, you just might have what it takes to be a gunner.