The nickel defense is a basic defensive formation that is designed to stop a pass play. The alignment features four down lineman, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. It can also be referred to as a nickel play, nickel package or nickel alignment. Also, it is known as a 4–2–5 or 3–3–5 defense.

Nickel means the defense will choose to substitute a fifth defensive back for the Will linebacker. The defense will then play with four down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs. The nickel will be the adjuster. He will adjust to the formation to matchup with the third wide receiver the offense has put in the game.

The nickel defense can be presented in two different variations. It can be either a 4–2–5 variation or a 3–3–5 type. In the first case, the team will be presented with four linemen, two linebackers, and 5 defensive backs. In both ways, it provides the team with speed and the ability to play the game by focusing on speed and not on drag force.