Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years.
Early formations, with six and seven man lines, used the end as a containment player, whose job was first to prevent an "end run" around his position, then secondarily to force plays inside.
When most teams adopted a five man line, two different styles of end play developed: "crashing" ends, who rushed into the backfield to disrupt plays, and "stand-up" or "waiting" ends, who played the more traditional containment style. Some coaches would use both techniques depending on game situations.
The advent of the four man line led to bigger defensive ends, who initially played over the offensive tackle instead of the offensive end, and always attempted to penetrate the backfield. Later developments in the four man line and the three man line shift the ends alignment but continue to call for large strong players who have pressure on the backfield as their primary role.
See also
Glossary of American football
