Cover 2 is a two-deep, five-under zone defense run out of both base and sub-package personnel (dime, nickel) at the pro level. By rushing four, and dropping seven into coverage (with eyes on the quarterback), the defense can take away vertical concepts while forcing the ball underneath to the flat or check-down option.

Cover 2 in football is a popular coverage played by almost all teams that need to defend both the run and the pass. Teams will use this coverage to protect themselves against underneath coverage. Cover 2 in football means the defense has two deep defenders and five underneath the defenders.

Cover 2 involves four players pass-rushing, five players playing underneath zones and two safeties covering the deep portions of the field. The success of this defense largely relies on the safety’s ability to cover large portions of the field. This cover 2 defense also requires the four pass rushers to provide pressure on the quarterback.

In a Cover 2 coverage, the defense has “hard” corners, or corners that are not bailing at the snap of the ball. They are part of the 5 underneath players, whereas in a Cover 3 or 4, the corners are bailing to cover deeper routes. Those hard corners also help against the run, especially offenses that want to run to the perimeter or to the outside.

The "2" in cover 2 comes from the two safeties that are responsible for the two deep zones, or "halves," starting at about 13 yards from the line of scrimmage. The philosophy behind the Cover 2 is to reduce the number of defenders that are needed to stop the deep pass threat, thus leaving more defenders closer to the line of scrimmage.