If you are a fan of EA Sports College Football or Madden NFL, you are probably much more familiar with the term defensive end, whether it be a left defensive end or right defensive end. You also see this term used during player introductions early in games when they unveil starting lineups.
However, the term edge rusher, or EDGE, has been thrown around often in recent years. What is an edge rusher, and how does it differentiate from the more well-known terms?
What Is an Edge Rusher? Explaining the General Defensive Term
In short, the term “edge rusher” is used to define the outside pass-rusher on a defensive play. Typically, this will be either a defensive end or an outside linebacker, depending on the defensive alignment. The two most common defensive alignments are known as a “3-4 defense” and a “4-3 defense.”
The latter (4-3) alignment uses four down linemen (or four defensive linemen on the line of scrimmage, typically two defensive ends and two defensive tackles) and three linebackers (typically a MIKE, a SAM — or strongside backer — and a WILL — or weakside backer, depending on who lines up on the heavier side of the offensive formation).
In this case, typically the “edge rushers” are the two defensive ends lined up on the outside
Conversely, the former (3-4) uses three down linemen and four linebackers, typically with one or two of the linebackers positioned on the line of scrimmage alongside the defensive linemen, depending on the front. In this case, the edge rusher would be the two outside edge rushers, typically the two outside linebackers.
This is where some of the confusion with the term comes into play. While an edge rusher may seem synonymous with a defensive end, it can actually apply to outside linebackers as well, depending on which “base” defensive alignments teams tend to deploy.
This is why in the NFL Draft community the term EDGE, or edge rusher, is typically a preferred demonym, as it is a more broad bucket to include both 3-4 outside linebackers and 4-3 defensive ends who broadly have similar responsibilities and goals.
Why Does It Matter?
Ultimately, terminology and jargon are a large part of football. Coaches sometimes seem to be speaking their own languages, and we are just looking for better terms to define what’s going on on the field.
As defenses progressively become more positionless and flexible as defensive coordinators look to blend the lines between their base packages and their nickel and dime packages, the term “edge rusher” paints a broader brush to define responsibilities on the defensive side like pass rushing, edge containment, where on the field they’re lined up, and who they match up against.
Furthermore, the term has seen public backing recently to be adopted by professional leagues as a defined position. This is often to help defog confusion regarding positional taxonomy when handing out awards to linebackers and defensive linemen, with some arguing that linebacker awards should go toward more traditional inside linebackers rather than pass-rushing linebackers.
The Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s “most impactful linebacker,” was given to Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker in 2024. However, he spent nearly as many snaps in the box (311) as he did along the defensive line (249) and spent more snaps rushing the passer (197) than he spent in pass coverage (176). To some, this is an issue, while others may argue it’s the evolution of the sport.
While this may never be a change that’s implemented, especially in a sport as rooted in tradition as college football (see the qualifications for the Outland Trophy for further confusion), it’s still a point of contention in debates for prestigious awards.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
