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Bear Front

Defense

also: Bear · double Eagle · 3-0-3 front

A defensive front that covers the center and both offensive guards with down linemen, typically using a zero-technique nose and two 3-techniques.

Bear front against a 2x2 shotgun spread set with the back offset right. Defensive tackles align as 3-techniques outside both guards, a nose covers the center and edge defenders complete the surface.
Bear covers the center and both guards; the edge structure can change around them.

The Bear front (often called the 3-0-3 front or Double Eagle) is a defensive alignment that covers the center and both offensive guards with down linemen, typically featuring a nose tackle head-up over the center (0-technique) and two defensive tackles on the outside shoulders of both guards (3-techniques).

Aligning in Bear dictates specific strategic matchups along the interior line:

Denies Interior Combination Blocks
By placing defensive linemen directly on the center and both guards, Bear prevents offensive linemen from executing clean double-team combo blocks before climbing to the second level.
Closes Both B Gaps & A Gaps
The two 3-techniques occupy the B gaps while the nose commands the center, forcing running plays to bounce laterally toward the perimeter.
Keeps Linebackers Clean
Because the interior offensive linemen are immediately locked in one-on-one blocks, inside linebackers are protected from climbing linemen and can scrape unimpeded to the ball.
Alignment vs. System
Although originally the cornerstone of Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense, the modern Bear front is an alignment concept that can be deployed from base 3-4, 4-3, or nickel personnel subpackages (such as the Penny front).
Also called3-0-3 front, double Eagle
Not to be confused withTite front, 46 defense, Odd front, Penny front

One common run fit

Shown as a five-man, one-gap surface against Inside Zone left. The nose lags to the backside A gap, the 3-techniques take B, the edges take C, one linebacker fits the playside A gap and the other overlaps.

One common Bear run fit against Inside Zone left. A solid arrow sends the left inside linebacker into the playside A gap, while a dashed arrow shows the other linebacker overlapping toward the run behind the five-man surface.
With both B gaps and both edges closed, one linebacker fits the A gap the nose leaves and the other overlaps.

A note on how the term is used

Bear is often used as shorthand for the 46 defense because the modern front descends from its interior alignment. The full 46 includes additional personnel, pressure and coverage structure; calling any 3-0-3 interior a Bear front does not mean the defense is running Buddy Ryan's complete 46.

Where you will hear it

  • short-yardage defenses
  • nickel and odd-front packages
  • 46-derived fronts

Related terms