Jokingly described as “Non-Contact Sport, but a Collision Sport” – American Football is also known as Gridiron football in some countries, and simply known as Football in the US.
The NFL: The National Football League is the leading pro football league in the United States. It consists of 32 teams in two conferences.
The American Football Conference (AFC) & The National Football Conference (NFC).
Each team plays 16 games during the regular season. The top six teams from each conference then compete in the play-offs that culminate in the annual Super Bowl.
Aim of The Game: The overall objective is to score more points than the opposing team… The main way to do this is by scoring more touchdowns.
Two teams of 11 players compete during four periods of play (known as quarters) to score points by advancing moving an oval ball, similar to a rugby ball into the opposition half and getting the ball across the line into the opponents End Zone, or kicking it through the goal posts, much like rugby.
The attacking team, known as the ‘Offence’ has a series of four attempts (known as ‘Downs’) to move the ball 10yards up the pitch. If successful, the Offence get another four Downs.
The Defending team, known as the Defence attempt to block and stop the Offence moving forward and win possession of the ball.
At the start of each play, Linemen on the Offence team clash at the scrimmage line with the defensive Linemen, attempting to block any move on the ball, protecting the Quarter Back, whilst the Offensive Running Backs & Receivers provide options for the playmaker, often the Quarter Back, providing highly tactical, explosive and fast plays, much like human armoured chess.
Scoring:
- Touchdown (6 points): Getting the ball into the end zone (running, catching).
- Extra Point/2-Point Conversion (1 or 2 points): After a touchdown, kick for 1 point or try to score again from close range for 2 points.
- Field Goal (3 points): Kicking the ball through the uprights (goalposts).
- Safety (2 points): Tackling an offensive player with the ball in their own end zone.
Players & Positions:
Every NFL Team has a roster of up to 53 players. Only 11 are on the field at any one time, but many are used in the course of the game. Some or all of the team may be substituted in the break between plays if there is enough time.
Offensive positions include Quarter Back, Offensive Linemen, Receivers and Running Backs.
Defensive positions include Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, and Safeties.
Positions in the Special Teams include Placekicker, Punter, Holder, Long & Short Snapper and Punt Returner.
- Quarterback (QB): Leader of the offence, throws the ball or hands it off.
- Receiver (WR): Catches passes.
- Running Back (RB): Runs with the ball.
- Offensive Line (OL): Blocks for the QB and RB.
- Defensive Line (DL): Tries to tackle the QB or RB.
Linebacker (LB): Versatile defenders, tackle runners, cover receivers.
- Cornerback/Safety (DB): Defend against passes.
Enforcing The Rules: Officials wear a distictive uniform, concisting of shirts with black & white vertical stripes, whit trousers, and black and white hat.
The head referee guides six officials with specific duties…
The Umpire – Head Linesman – Line Judge – Field Judge – Side Judge – Back Judge
An official signals an infringement by throwing a yellow flag. The referee then conveys the decision using a hand signal and an announcement. One Referee described the job as “trying to maintain order during a legalised gang brawl involving 80 toughs with a whistle, a hanky and a ton of prayer“.
Penalties:
Penalties are given for rule violations, and usually consist of moving the ball towards the offending teams End Zone, and replaying the down. Some of the most common penalties include:
Block in Back: An offensive player pushes an opponent in the back.
Face Mask: Grabbing an opponents face mask.
Holding: Illegally holding an opponent other than the ball carrier.
Interference: Illegally obstructing a player attempting to catch a pass.
Interesting Facts:
Record for the most points scored in the Super Bowl throughout a players career – The record is held by San Francisco 49ers player Jerry Rice, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. Jerry Rice scored 48 Points.
American Football grew from Rugby Football, played here in the UK, since the early 1800s. By the 1880s, American Football and Rugby had grown apart as each of the two sports developed and standardised their own rules. Originally a college sport, American Football went professional in the early 1900s, and the NFL (National Football League) formed in 1920, where it became more popular in the 1950s when TV coverage brought the sport to a national audience. Since the 1990s, American Football eclipsed baseball as the most popular spectator sport in the US.
The cost for a 30-second Super Bowl TV ad is around $7million to over $8million, a figure that has steadily climbed, with some spots in early 2025 reaching the higher end due to massive demand for the massive audience, but this price tag doesn’t include the significant production, celebrity talent, creative development, and extensive digital marketing needed to make the ad successful, which adds millions more.
The most expensive Super Bowl halftime show was The Weeknd’s performance in 2021, costing an estimated $17million, with The Weeknd personally investing $7million of his own money on top of the NFL’s budget to create his elaborate, mirrored maze production. Following closely are Shakira & Jennifer Lopez in 2020 ($13M) and Prince in 2007 ($12M), with performers often adding significant personal funds to elevate the spectacle beyond the standard NFL budget.
The biggest Super Bowl attendance was 103,985 for Super Bowl XIV on January 20, 1980, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams. This record, set in the iconic Rose Bowl stadium, has stood for over 40years, with several other Super Bowls at the same venue also exceeding 100,000 fans.
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