The Best Gloves for Football Players by Position

By Trevor Onions , last updated December 30, 2011

Many novice football players make the mistake of picking up any old hand gear, without realizing they are much better off with the best gloves for players by position. In fact, football famously occupies that murky realm between science and art. With a thorough understanding of where your talents are and how you can enhance your performance with top notch equipment, you're sure to play a better game. Use these tips for selecting high quality brands of gloves based on your place in the game.

Gloves for Receivers

Receivers in football arguably need the most protection and comfort, since they are sure to be wearing glove for long periods. The receiver's main job is to catch and intercept airborne balls, and doing this requires well padded gloves to pick up balls many times over the course of a long game. Fortunately, a couple brands seem to take the receiver's job function into account when designing their gloves.

Cutters is one brand to go to for noteworthy receiver's gloves, without being disappointed. Their gloves are padded for defense against harsh blows from the ball and the elements. Many games take place in cooler seasons, and Cutters does an excellent job of incorporating material that keeps your hands warm, without letting air become stifling inside the gloves.

Under Armour is a suitable alternative to gloves by Cutters. While they aren't available in quite the number of styles as Cutters gloves, Under Armour's designs are warm and virtually padded better than their competitor's product.

Best Gloves for Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks are field leaders in any game, and what they truly need in gloves is unique. While the quarterback may experience powerful blows when they are hit or tackled, they are better off with thinner gloves. Designs like Reebok's NFL MVP gloves are suitable for fulfilling the diverse responsibilities quarterbacks have on the field.

These gloves are durable, only lightly padded, and they incorporate specialized nodes for gripping. Good quarterbacks must strive for accuracy and agility during a game, and Reebok makes this easier to achieve by allowing quarterbacks to manipulate the ball with less effort. This is a good choice for long games, where the hands may grow weary from repeated movements.

Top Linemen Gloves

For linemen, padding should be lighter across the entire length of the glove, but still generously applied in specific areas. Knuckles and joints deserve a little extra padding to protect the fingers from injury when linebackers experience serious shocks, mash their hands against opponents, or fall tumbling down to the ground. Once again, Cutters excels at providing high quality gloves for linemen.

Look to their Reinforcer Linemen gloves for a simple, yet functional design that won't let you down in the heat of the sport. These gloves are durable and thinly padded along the palm and body. Yet, heftier fabric that's strategically placed over the knuckle area and along the fingertips allows linemen to get in the game and play rough, without worrying too much about surprise injuries.

With the right gloves for your football position, you're certain to see a positive boost in your game time performance. Having quality gloves could even be a deciding factor, since dropping the ball at crucial moments has changed history many times, as any football fan knows.

Resources and References

Football Gloves for Receivers, Linemen, and Linebackers | Football America

Rookie's Guide to Football Gloves | HRS Informer