Nickel is the new base. It’s a phrase that’s gotten thrown around for years when talking about NFL defenses — so much so that “new” has probably lost a bit of its meaning.

I n 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs deployed a defense that seemed to have an answer for everything. ... “I’m very comfortable at the nickel spot,” he told reporters after Monday’s practice.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On a second down in the third quarter of a Week 9 win over the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles Chargers defense set up in their big nickel package. In this package, safety ...

The Steelers used a nickel defense 38 percent of the time in 2023, making it the most typical defensive package they put on the field. But that 38 percent was among the lowest in the NFL last season.

GREEN BAY − Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley appears to have settled on his secondary for his nickel defense that’s a lot different than the start of the season, but he ...