• Drill Type
  • Tackling Focus

What is Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel?

Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for tackling work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.

  • Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is part of FantasyHQ’s free football drills library.
  • Focus: Tackling.

How to run this drill

Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.

  1. Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo.
  2. Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish.
  3. Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
  4. Close with one coaching cue players can repeat in the huddle next period.

Full drill

One of the team’s favorite football defensive drills is the “Tackle Tunnel”.   We run the drill until each player has played each role at least 2x.

Tackle Tunnel

The team splits into 2 lines facing each other about 3-5 yards apart; lines 1 and 2. A coach will be at one end of each line; the north end of line 1 and a second coach will be at the south end of line 2.

Line 1 will be the ball carriers and line 2 will be the tacklers. The player at the north end of line 1 turns to face the coach and the player at the south end turns to face that coach.

On the whistle the players each turn into the “tunnel” made by their teammates. The ball carrier wants to run through the tunnel without being tackled or fumbling the ball; the tackler obviously wants to bring down the ball carrier.

At the conclusion of the   football drill either the ball carrier makes it through or is tackled or fumbles; either way the players then go to the end of the opposite line and the drill begins again.

We encourage the players to cheer and get pumped; we also play loud rock music during this drill to keep everyone pumped!

Coaching tips

  • Keep one cue per rep so kids hear the same language every time.
  • Film the first live set; pause on footwork and finish, not just the ball.
  • Pair this drill with a matching play install so practice transfers to game day.
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Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel FAQ

What is the Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel drill?
Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for tackling work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
Who should use this football drill?
Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
How do I run Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel in practice?
Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo. Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish. Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
Is this drill free?
Yes. Browse FantasyHQ football drills, youth plays, and coaching guides free on Football Coaching.

Guide · Football Coaching

Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel

Football Defensive Drills – The Tackle Tunnel is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for tackling work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.

One of the team’s favorite football defensive drills is the “Tackle Tunnel”. We run the drill until each player has played each role at least 2x.

What you get

Practice drills with setup notes, youth play diagrams ranked easy to hard, FLAG and tackle coaching guides, and a path into live NFL coaching staffs.

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football defensive drills tackling drills