Evolving NFL Defenses: How Two-High Safety Looks are Dominating the 2025 Season
The NFL is a constantly evolving chess match, and in 2025, the defenses have made a significant move. The rise of the two-high safety look is not just a trend; it’s a strategic shift that’s reshaping offensive playbooks and forcing quarterbacks to rethink their reads. Through the first few weeks of the 2024 season, NFL offenses experienced a significant step backward, largely attributed to the increase in two-high coverages. This defensive approach, featuring split safeties covering the deep part of the field, aims to eliminate big plays and force offenses into methodical, downfield drives. This approach has continued to evolve and dominate the 2025 season.
The Data Doesn’t Lie: Two-High’s Impact
The numbers paint a clear picture. According to Next Gen Stats, the percentage of two-high safety looks on passing attempts has jumped from 44% in 2019 to a dominant 63% in 2024. This increase has had a tangible effect on passing offenses across the league. Passing yards per game have steadily declined, from 496 in 2020 to just 403 in the early weeks of 2024. Similarly, average air yards per pass attempt have dropped to 7.7 yards, the lowest in over a decade. Deep pass attempts (20+ yards downfield) have also decreased, from 10.2 per game in 2019 to 7.7 per game in 2024. This trend has continued into the 2025 season, with teams adjusting their offensive strategies to cope with the two-high prevalence.
Why the Shift?
The move towards two-high safety looks is a direct response to the modern NFL’s offensive explosion. The league had seen a surge in passing offenses, with the 2015 and 2016 seasons featuring over 480 passing yards per game. Defenses needed to adapt, and the two-high look provided a way to mitigate the risk of explosive plays. By keeping two safeties deep, defenses can effectively bracket top receivers and limit opportunities for quarterbacks to take shots downfield.
The Challenges for Offenses
While the two-high safety look has proven effective in slowing down passing offenses, it also presents challenges. With safeties playing deeper, defenses often employ lighter boxes, meaning fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage. This can make teams susceptible to the run. The dilemma for defensive coordinators is finding the right balance between pass coverage and run support.
How Offenses are Adapting
Offensive coordinators are not sitting idly by. They are actively seeking ways to exploit the vulnerabilities of two-high defenses. One strategy is to emphasize the running game. By establishing a strong ground attack, offenses can force defenses to bring safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, opening up opportunities for play-action passes and deep shots.
Another approach is to focus on short and intermediate routes. With deep coverage accounted for, quarterbacks are increasingly looking to target receivers underneath, relying on yards after catch to move the chains. This requires accurate passing, precise route running, and receivers who can make plays in space.
The Rise of Versatile Defenders
The evolution of NFL defenses has also led to the emergence of versatile defenders. With offenses becoming more dynamic, defenses are adapting by developing hybrid players who can play multiple positions. Linebacker-safeties and multi-role defenders are now essential, allowing teams to counter the speed and complexity of modern offenses. These players can line up in the box, cover tight ends, or drop into deep coverage, giving defensive coordinators the flexibility to adjust their schemes on the fly.
Key Players in the Two-High Era
Several safeties have emerged as key players in the two-high era. Kevin Byard of the Chicago Bears, Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings, and Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers are all known for their intelligence, range, and ability to read quarterbacks. These players excel at diagnosing plays, making quick decisions, and covering vast amounts of ground. Their presence allows defensive coordinators to confidently deploy two-high safety looks, knowing they have the back end covered.
The Impact on the NFL Draft
The emphasis on run defense and two-high safety looks was evident in the 2025 NFL Draft. After Abdul Carter went third overall, the next five defensive linemen selected were strong run defenders. Defensive tackles Mason Graham and Walter Nolen posted the top two run-defense grades among FBS interior linemen last season, while Kenneth Grant ranked 13th. The next two edge defenders drafted after Carter — Mykel Williams and Shemar Stewart — also profiled better against the run than the pass. This trend highlights the league’s recognition of the importance of stopping the run without compromising defensive structure.
The Future of NFL Defenses
The two-high safety look is likely here to stay, but the game will continue to evolve. As offenses find new ways to attack these defenses, defensive coordinators will need to develop even more sophisticated schemes and strategies. The use of analytics will become increasingly important, as teams look to identify tendencies and exploit weaknesses. The chess match between offenses and defenses will continue, with each side constantly seeking an edge.
The Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles, for example, set the standard for stopping the run with lighter boxes by leading the NFL in run-defense grade when playing from two-high shells. This schematic trend is one that other teams are now working to replicate, highlighting the ongoing adaptation and evolution in the league.
The Los Angeles Rams, known for their “moneyball” approach, exemplify this trend. They have consistently had the cheapest defense in the NFL, relying on rookie deals and strategic spending to build a competitive unit. This approach has allowed them to allocate resources to other positions while still fielding an effective defense.
The rise of dual-threat quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jayden Daniels has also influenced defensive strategies. These quarterbacks challenge defenses with their ability to both pass and run effectively, making it harder to load the box without getting burned through the air.
The evolving landscape of NFL defenses is a testament to the constant innovation and adaptation that defines the game. The two-high safety look is just the latest chapter in this ongoing story, and it will be fascinating to see how offenses and defenses continue to evolve in the years to come.