The Art of the Blitz: Examining the Rise of High-Pressing Defensive Strategies in the 2025 NFL Season

The 2025 NFL season is shaping up to be a battleground of strategic innovation, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. As offenses continue to evolve, defenses are adapting with increasingly aggressive and sophisticated tactics. One of the most prominent trends is the resurgence of the high-pressure defense, characterized by frequent and creative blitzing schemes. In Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense sacked Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes two and a half times. This blog post will delve into the art of the blitz, examining its rise, its key components, and its impact on the modern NFL.

The Blitz Renaissance: Why Now?

The NFL has always been a cyclical league, with trends rising and falling as coaches seek to exploit weaknesses and counter emerging offensive strategies. The current emphasis on high-pressure defenses is a direct response to the evolution of the passing game. With offenses increasingly relying on quick, short passes and run-pass option (RPO) plays, defenses are looking for ways to disrupt the timing and rhythm of quarterbacks.

Several factors have contributed to this “blitz renaissance”:

The Need for Disruption: Quick passing offenses are designed to neutralize the pass rush, making it difficult for defensive lines to generate pressure with just four rushers. Blitzing adds extra rushers, increasing the odds of disrupting the quarterback and forcing errant throws.
Versatile Defenders: The rise of hybrid defenders—players who can play multiple positions and excel in both coverage and pass rushing—has given defensive coordinators more flexibility in their blitz designs.
Advanced Analytics: Teams are using data analytics to identify favorable blitzing opportunities, targeting specific matchups and exploiting offensive tendencies.

Key Components of a High-Pressing Defense

A successful high-pressure defense is more than just sending extra rushers. It requires a coordinated effort involving several key components:

Aggressive Defensive Line: The defensive line must be able to generate consistent pressure, even when the blitz is not coming. This forces offenses to account for the defensive line, opening up opportunities for blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. The Pittsburgh Steelers, led by T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward, continue to have the best defensive line in the NFL. The Steelers even selected interior defender Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, further bolstering an elite unit.
Versatile Linebackers: Linebackers are the key to most blitz packages, and their ability to rush the passer, cover running backs, and drop into coverage is crucial. Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone of the Detroit Lions are examples of linebackers who excel in this role.
Ball-Hawking Secondary: Blitzing can leave defensive backs in one-on-one coverage, so it’s essential to have a secondary that can make plays on the ball. Safeties and cornerbacks must be able to anticipate throws, make tackles, and force turnovers. Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans is a prime example of a ball-hawking cornerback.
Creative Play-Calling: The most effective blitzing defenses are unpredictable, mixing up their blitz packages and disguising their intentions. Defensive coordinators must be able to identify favorable matchups and exploit offensive weaknesses. Lou Anarumo, the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive coordinator, is known for his ability to adapt his defensive tactics based on the opponent.

Teams Leading the Charge

Several teams have embraced the high-pressure defensive philosophy in 2025:

Detroit Lions: Under defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, the Lions have adopted an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach. They blitz on nearly 56% of dropbacks, forcing quarterbacks into quick decisions and mistakes. Aidan Hutchinson leads the pressure strategies, assisted by Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone’s dominance over running backs.
Houston Texans: The Texans have built a formidable defense around their pass rush, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. They also have a young, talented secondary that can capitalize on errant throws. The Texans ranked 31st in defense in 2020, 29th in 2021, 23rd in 2022, and 12th in 2023, before finishing seventh in 2024.
Denver Broncos: The Broncos’ defense was one of the best in the NFL this past season. Only the Eagles allowed a lower EPA per play figure and fewer yards per play than the Broncos in 2024. They also ranked second in the league with a 39.9% pressure rate, and Patrick Surtain II became the first cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year since Stephon Gilmore in 2019.

The Counter-Strategies

Of course, the rise of the high-pressure defense has not gone unanswered. Offenses are adapting with their own counter-strategies:

Quick Passing Game: As mentioned earlier, the quick passing game is designed to neutralize the pass rush. Quarterbacks are trained to get the ball out quickly, before the blitz can arrive.
Screens and Draws: Screen passes and draw plays can exploit aggressive defenses that are focused on rushing the passer. These plays can catch blitzing defenders out of position, leading to big gains.
Mobile Quarterbacks: Quarterbacks who can escape the pocket and make plays with their legs can be a nightmare for blitzing defenses. Their mobility forces defenders to stay disciplined and prevents them from simply teeing off on the quarterback.
Pre-Snap Reads and Adjustments: Quarterbacks are becoming increasingly adept at reading defenses before the snap and making adjustments to counter the blitz. This requires a high level of football IQ and a strong understanding of defensive schemes.

The Future of the Blitz

The art of the blitz is likely to continue to evolve in the coming years. As offenses adapt, defenses will need to become even more creative and unpredictable in their blitz designs. The use of advanced analytics will become even more prevalent, helping teams identify the most favorable blitzing opportunities.

One potential trend is the increased use of “simulated pressures,” where defenses create pressure without actually blitzing. This involves using stunts, twists, and other techniques to confuse offensive lines and create one-on-one matchups for pass rushers.

Ultimately, the success of the high-pressure defense will depend on a team’s ability to execute its scheme effectively and adapt to the ever-changing offensive landscape. As the 2025 NFL season unfolds, it will be fascinating to watch how the art of the blitz continues to evolve and shape the game.