Which position in football gets hurt the least?

The Safest Spot on the Football Field

Football is a contact sport—there’s no way around it. But if you're looking to stay as healthy as possible while still being part of the game, your best bet might be to join the special teams.

Long snappers, kickers, and punters see the fewest injuries on the roster. In fact, only about 4% of long snappers suffer injuries during play, making theirs the safest position in football. Kickers and punters fare even better, with injury rates dipping slightly below that already low number. This makes sense—these athletes are usually on the field for just a few seconds at a time, often out of the main line of fire.

When a kicker or long snapper does get hurt, the injury tends to be more serious—sometimes even requiring surgery. Because they’re not built for blocking or tackling, their bodies aren’t conditioned for high-impact collisions. A hit that a lineman might shrug off could sideline a punter for weeks.

Still, the odds are in their favor. While quarterbacks, running backs, and linebackers take hit after hit every game, special team players enjoy a quieter kind of football fame—less spotlight, fewer injuries, and a longer shelf life on the field.

So if you love the game but want to keep your body intact, maybe trade the helmet for a kicking tee. The special teams might just be your safest play.