Dan Skuta, Former 49ers Player - What Does a Linebacker Do?

Throughout his NFL career. Dan Skuta played for a variety of teams – including the 49ers, the Bengals, the Jaguars and the Bears. 

A hard-charging linebacker who gave his all in each of his nine seasons, Skuta understands the role of his position well – just how important the linebacker is to the overall performance and function of the defensive side of the ball.

Dan Skuta – who no longer plays for the 49ers – excelled in the linebacker position, one that is often responsible for:

·         Shadowing running backs, wide receivers and even tight ends on any given play.

·         Finding holes or edges in the offensive line to rush the passer.

·         Tacking and tackling the ball carrier – no matter who that might be. 

Linebackers, as the name implies, provide support to the defensive line – and there are generally anywhere from 3-4 linebackers on the field at any given time. 

As one of the defense’s primary sources of pass rushing and run stuffing, linebackers are usually required to be fast, strong and quick on their feet.