Over the last decade or so in the NFL, the nose tackle position has trended closer and closer toward extinction, and rightfully so. In today’s pace-and-space style of football, mammoth-sized nose tackles who don’t move all that well and just tie up blockers don’t exactly have a true role anymore.
The days of Casey Hampton, Vince Wilfork, Ted Washington and more are all but over.
That doesn’t mean the position hasn’t evolved. Now, nose tackles are a bit smaller and much more athletic, at least in Pittsburgh where the duo of Montravius Adams and rookie Keeanu Benton were quite impactful during the 2023 season.