NFL defenses are increasingly returning to heavier personnel packages as teams devote more resources and snaps to their defensive lines and linebacker units. Defensive playcallers are capitalizing on that shift. Blitz rates in both base and nickel packages are increasing, while yards allowed per blitz are decreasing.
Those trends could have significant implications for offenses in 2026. Teams capable of consistently generating answers in the quick passing game should be better positioned to handle increased pressure, making offensive scheme and quarterback play important considerations in fantasy football drafts. This article examines the recent blitz-related trends, successes and failures shaping that landscape.
NFL blitz rates from 2023-2025
NFL Defensive Formation Blitz Rates 2025 2024 2023 Base formation blitz rate 30.24% 25.76% 34.32% Nickel formation blitz rate 29.63% 27.37% 28.41% Dime formation blitz rate 22.56% 24.11% 27.34%Since 2023, NFL defenses have increased their base-package rate by 8.42% while decreasing their nickel-package rate by 8.12% and their dime-package rate by 0.51%.
At the same time, defensive coordinators are blitzing more often out of base and nickel packages, while dime packages have become more coverage-oriented.