# Upback

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Upback.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upback
> Source revision: 1315997372
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|Blocking back in American football}}{{Unreferenced|date=October 2025}}[[File:Personal Protector or Upback.png|thumb|347x347px|This is a basic punt formation with the upback highlighted in red. The [gunners](/source/Gunner_(American_football)) will be on the line of scrimmage with the rest of the offensive line and [long snapper](/source/long_snapper).]]
In [American football](/source/American_football), the '''upback''' (also known as the '''punt protector''' or '''personal protector''') is a blocking back who lines up anywhere from 1–7 yards behind the [line of scrimmage](/source/line_of_scrimmage) in [punting](/source/punt_(gridiron_football)) situations. If there are three blockers behind the main line of scrimmage, the personal protector will line up in the middle of them. 

Because the [punter](/source/punter_(football)) plays so far back, the upback frequently makes the line calls and calls for the [snap](/source/snap_(gridiron_football)) to be received by the punter. Their primary role is to act as the last line of defense for the punter. Upbacks may occasionally receive the snap instead of the punter on [fake punt](/source/fake_punt)s. Upbacks receiving the snap normally run the ball, but they may throw it. An upback is typically played by a back-up for another position, mostly a [fullback](/source/Fullback_(gridiron_football)), [running back](/source/running_back), [tight end](/source/tight_end) or a [linebacker](/source/linebacker). This position is usually referred to simply as a [special teamer](/source/special_teamer), or even a [gunner](/source/gunner_(American_football)) (though that word is used more often for a different position). A notable upback was [Nate Ebner](/source/Nate_Ebner), formerly of the [New England Patriots](/source/New_England_Patriots). A former [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player, Ebner used his versatility in order to execute fake punts and protect the punter.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{American football positions}}

Category:American football positions

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Upback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upback) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upback?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.