99 Fun Facts About American Football

Which quarterback has won the most Super Bowl titles as a starter?

Tom Brady won seven Super Bowl titles, the most by any player in NFL history.

What team won the first-ever Super Bowl in January 1967?

The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Which wide receiver holds the NFL career record for most receiving yards?

Jerry Rice accumulated 22,895 career receiving yards, a record widely considered one of the most unbreakable in sports.

What is the only team to complete a perfect season including a Super Bowl victory?

The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 17-0, the only team to finish a season undefeated and untied with a Super Bowl win.

How many points is a touchdown worth in American football?

A touchdown is worth 6 points. The scoring team then attempts an extra point (1 point) or a two-point conversion.

Which head coach has won the most Super Bowls in NFL history?

Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots, more than any other head coach.

In what year did the AFL and NFL officially merge into one league?

The AFL-NFL merger was agreed upon in 1966 but fully took effect in 1970, combining both leagues into one NFL with AFC and NFC conferences.

Which running back became the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a 14-game NFL season?

O.J. Simpson rushed for 2,003 yards in the 1973 season with the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first player to break the 2,000-yard barrier.

What is the name of the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl champion?

The Vince Lombardi Trophy, handcrafted by Tiffany & Co., goes to the Super Bowl winner; it took Lombardi's name after his death in 1970 and was first presented as such at Super Bowl V.

Which team lost Super Bowl LI to New England after leading 28-3?

The Atlanta Falcons led 28-3 in the third quarter of Super Bowl LI before New England scored 31 unanswered points to win 34-28 in overtime.

What position does the player who snaps the ball to the quarterback play?

The center is the offensive lineman who snaps the ball to the quarterback at the start of each play, positioned in the middle of the offensive line.

Which team lost four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994?

The Buffalo Bills lost Super Bowls XXV through XXVIII, played from January 1991 to January 1994, to the Giants, Washington, and twice to the Cowboys.

What nickname was given to Pittsburgh's dominant 1970s defensive line?

The Steel Curtain was the nickname for the Steelers defense in the 1970s, featuring Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White.

Which team drafted Peyton Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft?

The Indianapolis Colts selected Peyton Manning first overall in 1998. He spent 14 seasons there before finishing his career with the Denver Broncos.

Including both end zones, how many yards long is an NFL field?

An NFL field is 120 yards long: 100 yards between the goal lines plus a 10-yard end zone at each end. It is 160 feet (53 1/3 yards) wide.

Which receiver broke Jerry Rice's single-season receiving-yards record with 1,964 yards in 2012?

Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions caught 122 passes for 1,964 yards in 2012, passing Jerry Rice's 1995 mark of 1,848 yards.

What is the term for when a defensive player catches a pass intended for an offensive player?

An interception occurs when a defensive player catches a forward pass meant for an offensive receiver, resulting in a turnover.

Which coach led the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowls?

Vince Lombardi coached the Green Bay Packers to victories in Super Bowls I and II. The Super Bowl trophy was later named in his honor.

Which two franchises were the first to win six Super Bowls each?

The Steelers and Patriots were the first to six titles: Pittsburgh's sixth came in Super Bowl XLIII (February 2009) and New England's in Super Bowl LIII (February 2019).

Which famous play decided the Steelers-Raiders 1972 AFC Divisional Playoff?

The Immaculate Reception by Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Oakland Raiders is considered one of the most iconic plays in NFL history.

Which college football rivalry, first played in 1897, is known simply as The Game?

Michigan and Ohio State have met every year but one since 1918, traditionally on the final Saturday of the regular season. Ohio's 1835 border dispute with Michigan, the Toledo War, is sometimes cited as prehistory for the feud.

Which halftime performer famously had a wardrobe malfunction during Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004?

Janet Jackson experienced a wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show with Justin Timberlake, leading to FCC fines and a massive shift in broadcast standards.

What is a safety worth in American football?

A safety is worth 2 points and is scored when the offensive team is tackled, commits a penalty, or fumbles the ball out of their own end zone.

Which NFL quarterback was known as The Sheriff and retired after winning Super Bowl 50?

Peyton Manning, nicknamed The Sheriff for his meticulous pre-snap reads, retired after leading the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 victory in February 2016.

Which city hosted the very first Super Bowl?

Super Bowl I was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967. It was the only Super Bowl not to sell out.

Which position lines up at the outer edge of the line of scrimmage mainly to rush the QB?

The defensive end lines up on the outside edge of the defensive line and is a primary pass rusher, tasked with pressuring the quarterback.

Which Giants linebacker known as L.T. terrorised quarterbacks in the 1980s and won the 1986 MVP, a rarity for a defender?

Lawrence Taylor, the Giants' pass-rushing linebacker, was named 1986 NFL MVP, the first defender so honored since Alan Page in 1971; The Blind Side credits him with making left tackles premium linemen.

How many players from each team are on the field during a regular play in an NFL game?

Each team has 11 players on the field during a play, for a total of 22 players. Having 12 or more players on the field results in a penalty.

Which annual college football award is given to the best player in the nation?

The Heisman Trophy has been awarded since 1935 and is the most prestigious individual award in college football, presented annually in New York City.

Which franchise moved from St. Louis back to Los Angeles before the 2016 season?

The St. Louis Rams relocated back to Los Angeles in 2016 and later moved into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, which they share with the Chargers.

What play resulted in the New York Giants defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV by one point?

Scott Norwood of the Buffalo Bills missed a 47-yard field goal wide right in the final seconds, giving the Giants a 20-19 victory in one of the closest Super Bowls ever.

Which NFL team is known as the Silver and Black?

The Raiders have worn silver and black since 1963, when Al Davis took over as head coach and general manager; the colors followed the team from Oakland to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

What is the term for a play where the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage?

A sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage while attempting to throw a forward pass. The term was popularized in the 1960s.

Which running back holds the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards?

Adrian Peterson rushed for 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers on November 4, 2007, setting the NFL single-game rushing record.

Which team won back-to-back Super Bowls in February 2023 and February 2024?

The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowls LVII and LVIII in consecutive seasons (February 2023 and February 2024), led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

What is the maximum number of downs a team gets to advance the ball 10 yards for a first down?

A team has four downs to advance the ball at least 10 yards. If successful, they earn a new set of four downs. Most teams punt on fourth down if they have not gained enough yardage.

Which quarterback set an NFL record with a touchdown pass in 54 consecutive games?

Drew Brees threw a touchdown pass in 54 straight games from 2009 to 2012, breaking Johnny Unitas's 47-game streak that had stood since 1960.

Which former NFL quarterback famously guaranteed a victory before Super Bowl III and delivered?

Joe Namath of the New York Jets guaranteed victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts and backed it up with a 16-7 win in Super Bowl III in January 1969.

What nickname did the Seahawks' secondary of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor carry in the early 2010s?

The Legion of Boom anchored the defense that crushed Denver 43–8 in Super Bowl XLVIII; the name riffs on the Legion of Doom, the villains from the Super Friends cartoon.

Which player holds the NFL career record for most rushing yards?

Emmitt Smith rushed for 18,355 career yards over 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys, making him the NFLs all-time leading rusher.

What is the name of the annual NFL event where college players are selected by professional teams?

The NFL Draft is held annually in late April where teams take turns selecting eligible college football players over seven rounds.

Which coach led the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl victories in the 1990s and was known for his hair?

Jimmy Johnson coached the Cowboys to victories in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, and was famous for his meticulously styled hair.

What do the letters NFL stand for?

NFL stands for National Football League, the name the league adopted in 1922, two years after its founding in 1920.

Which team ran Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense during its dominant 1985 season?

The 1985 Chicago Bears ran the innovative 46 Defense designed by Buddy Ryan, helping them go 15-1 and dominate Super Bowl XX with a 46-10 victory.

Which 49ers receiver made The Catch against Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship game?

Joe Montana's 6-yard throw to Clark capped an 89-yard drive and beat the Cowboys 28-27, sending San Francisco to its first Super Bowl. Clark's leap became the founding image of the 49ers dynasty.

To how many regular-season games did the NFL expand its schedule in 2021?

The NFL expanded to a 17-game regular season starting in 2021, up from 16 games, which had been the standard since 1978.

Which Stanford quarterback did the Colts take first overall in 2012, weeks after releasing Peyton Manning?

Andrew Luck was the consensus best prospect in a decade, then shocked the league by retiring at 29 in 2019, citing the endless cycle of injury and rehab.

What record did the 2007 Patriots set in the regular season before losing the Super Bowl?

The 2007 Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season, becoming the first team to do so in a 16-game season. They then lost to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.

Which Giants receiver pinned the ball to his helmet in Super Bowl XLII, the catch that doomed the undefeated Patriots?

David Tyree's 'Helmet Catch' came with Eli Manning escaping a sack; Burress caught the winning touchdown minutes later, and Tyree never caught another NFL pass.

From which yard line did NFL teams kick off between 1994 and 2010?

Between 1994 and 2010 NFL kickoffs came from the 30-yard line; the league had moved the spot back five yards from the 35 in 1994 to encourage returns, then restored the 35 in 2011.

Which quarterback won three Super Bowl MVP awards with the 49ers?

Joe Montana was named Super Bowl MVP three times, in XVI, XIX and XXIV, a record until Tom Brady won his fourth in Super Bowl LI.

Which quarterback became the first to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, in 1984?

Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins threw for 5,084 yards in 1984, his second season, the first 5,000-yard season in NFL history; no one matched it until Drew Brees in 2008.

The NFL franchise known as the Arizona Cardinals originally began in what major US city?

The Arizona Cardinals franchise began as the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago in 1898, making them the oldest continuously operating NFL franchise. They later moved to St. Louis before settling in Arizona.

Which defensive package brings in one extra defensive back in place of a linebacker?

A 'nickel' defense involves having five defensive backs on the field, typically by replacing a linebacker with an extra defensive back, to improve pass coverage.

Which quarterback did the Dallas Cowboys select first overall in the 1989 NFL Draft?

The Cowboys took UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman first overall in 1989 after a 3-13 season; he went on to win three Super Bowls with Dallas in the 1990s.

Which scoring play is worth exactly three points?

A field goal, kicked through the uprights from a held snap, is worth three points; the value was cut from four to three in 1909.

Which running back retired in July 1999 with 15,269 career rushing yards, then second all-time?

Barry Sanders retired in July 1999 at age 31 after ten seasons, leaving him 1,457 yards short of Walter Payton's career record of 16,726.

Which Seahawks running back's 67-yard touchdown run in January 2011 registered on a seismograph?

Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard touchdown run in Seattle's January 2011 wild-card upset of New Orleans shook a nearby seismometer, earning the play the name 'Beast Quake'.

Who bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and fired Tom Landry the same day?

Jerry Jones bought the Cowboys from Bum Bright for roughly $140 million in February 1989 and dismissed Tom Landry, the only head coach the franchise had ever had.

Which defensive end retired in 2003 as the NFL's career sacks leader with 200?

Bruce Smith, a Buffalo Bill for 15 seasons before finishing with Washington, recorded 200 career sacks, two more than Reggie White's 198.

Which NFL stadium is nicknamed the Frozen Tundra?

Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers' home since 1957, earned the Frozen Tundra nickname after the bitterly cold 1967 NFL Championship Game, the Ice Bowl.

Which rookie quarterback was sacked 76 times in 2002, then the most ever in a season?

David Carr, the expansion Houston Texans' first draft pick, was sacked 76 times as a rookie in 2002, the most any NFL quarterback had absorbed in one season.

Which two colleges played the first American football game on November 6, 1869?

Rutgers won 6–4 under soccer-based rules; by 1875 the sport had shifted to rugby-style play.

Which Yale figure, known as the 'Father of American Football', invented the line of scrimmage and the system of downs?

Walter Camp, at the 1880 rules convention, replaced the rugby scrum with the snap from scrimmage and set teams at eleven players; his system of downs followed in 1882.

How many football fatalities in 1905 led President Theodore Roosevelt to threaten to abolish the game?

Nineteen deaths were counted in the 1905 season; Roosevelt summoned Harvard, Yale and Princeton to the White House that October, and 62 colleges met in New York in December to reform the rules.

In what kind of building was the meeting held on August 20, 1920, that led to the founding of the NFL?

Ralph Hay hosted the meeting at his Jordan and Hupmobile car showroom in Canton, Ohio; the follow-up there on September 17, 1920 created the league that became the NFL.

Which Olympic legend was elected the first president of the league that became the NFL in 1920?

Jim Thorpe, the 1912 Olympic pentathlon and decathlon champion, was named the new league's first president at its founding meeting; the 14-team league took the NFL name for 1922.

The NFL was formed in 1920 under what name, before adopting its current one for the 1922 season?

The American Professional Football Association was born in a Canton car dealership with ten teams, including the Decatur Staleys, forerunners of the Chicago Bears.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio, the city where the NFL was founded, in which year?

1963's first class of 17 included Jim Thorpe and George Halas; Canton got the Hall because the league was founded in a car dealership there in 1920.

Which kicker set the NFL record with a 68-yard field goal in November 2025?

Cam Little hit the 68-yarder for the Jaguars against the Raiders, topping the 66-yard mark set in 2021.

NBC cut away from a 1968 Jets–Raiders game to air which film, giving the game its name?

Heidi, a 1968 TV film about a Swiss orphan, started on schedule at 7 p.m. Eastern; the Raiders scored two touchdowns in the final minute while viewers missed it, and NBC's president apologized.

Which Titans tight end threw the lateral that began the 2000 Music City Miracle?

Frank Wycheck took Lorenzo Neal's handoff and threw the lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson on the rehearsed Home Run Throwback play; Dyson ran 75 yards for the winning score.

Which venue hosted the 1958 title game known as the Greatest Game Ever Played?

Yankee Stadium in the Bronx hosted the Colts' 23-17 win over the Giants on December 28, 1958, the first NFL game decided in sudden-death overtime; the NBC telecast fueled pro football's surge.

Tom Dempsey kicked his then-record 63-yard field goal in 1970 for which team?

Dempsey kicked the 63-yarder for the New Orleans Saints to beat Detroit 19-17 on November 8, 1970; born without toes on his kicking foot, he wore a flat-fronted shoe that stirred fairness debates.

Which running back set the single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984?

Dickerson did it in his second season with the Rams, topping 100 yards in twelve games that year.

Which head coach retired after 1995 with 347 career wins, then the NFL record?

Don Shula won 347 games over 33 straight seasons with the Colts and Dolphins, including two Super Bowls, and coached 526 games, then the most in NFL history, before retiring in January 1996.

Which quarterback led the 98-yard series known as The Drive in January 1987?

John Elway marched Denver 98 yards in 15 plays at Cleveland Municipal Stadium to tie the AFC Championship Game 20-20 in the final minute; the Broncos won 23-20 in overtime.

In which year did the forward pass become legal in American football?

The forward pass became legal for the 1906 season after President Theodore Roosevelt pushed colleges to reform the game; Saint Louis University's Bradbury Robinson threw the first legal pass that September.

In which year did the NFL adopt the two-point conversion?

The NFL adopted the two-point conversion in 1994; Browns punter Tom Tupa scored the first one on a faked kick that September and picked up the nickname Two-Point Tupa.

Which Cowboys quarterback popularized the term Hail Mary after a 1975 playoff win?

Roger Staubach, a devout Catholic, said he closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary on his 50-yard winning throw to Drew Pearson against the Vikings on December 28, 1975.

Lamar Hunt's coinage 'Super Bowl' was inspired by a bouncy toy made by which company?

Hunt's children played with Wham-O's Super Ball, a high-bounce rubber toy launched in 1965; he floated 'Super Bowl' in a 1966 letter to Pete Rozelle as a kidding suggestion.

What was the final score of the 1940 title game, the most lopsided result in NFL history?

The Bears beat Washington 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, scoring eleven touchdowns; it was the first NFL title game broadcast nationwide on radio.

Which Raiders cornerback forced the disputed fumble in the 2001 Tuck Rule Game?

Charles Woodson's blitz knocked the ball from Tom Brady; the fumble was overturned to an incomplete pass under the tuck rule, New England won 16-13 in the snow, and the rule was scrapped in 2013.

Which Vikings receiver scored the walk-off Minneapolis Miracle touchdown in January 2018?

Stefon Diggs caught Case Keenum's 27-yard throw and, after Saints safety Marcus Williams missed the tackle, finished a 61-yard touchdown as time expired to beat New Orleans 29-24.

Which NFL team began its Thanksgiving Day home-game tradition in 1934?

Detroit Lions owner George A. Richards started the Thanksgiving home game in 1934 to draw fans to the franchise he had just moved from Portsmouth, Ohio; the Lions skipped the holiday only from 1939 to 1944.

Which Cardinals safety left the NFL in 2002 to join the Army Rangers?

Pat Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million Cardinals contract after the September 11 attacks, enlisted in May 2002, and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in April 2004.

Which Bears running back was nicknamed Sweetness?

Walter Payton picked up the Sweetness nickname in college at Jackson State; the NFL's Man of the Year award has carried his name since 1999.

Who was the first player ever selected in an NFL draft, in 1936?

Jay Berwanger, the inaugural Heisman winner, was taken first by the Eagles in 1936; his rights went to the Bears, but he never played pro football and went into rubber sales instead.

What was the kickoff temperature at the 1967 NFL Championship nicknamed the Ice Bowl?

The temperature at Lambeau Field was −13 °F at kickoff on December 31, 1967, with wind chills estimated near −48 °F, the coldest NFL game on record at the time.

Before his Rams stardom, Kurt Warner famously worked what job after being cut in 1994?

He stocked shelves at a Hy-Vee in Cedar Falls, Iowa for $5.50 an hour while coaching at Northern Iowa before turning to the Arena League.

Which quarterback holds the NFL record of 297 consecutive regular-season starts?

Brett Favre started 297 straight regular-season games from September 1992 to December 2010 with the Packers, Jets and Vikings; counting playoffs the streak reached 321.

Who is the only athlete to play in both a Super Bowl and a World Series?

Deion Sanders batted .533 (8 for 15) for Atlanta in the 1992 World Series, and later won Super Bowls with the 49ers in January 1995 and the Cowboys in January 1996.

Jim Brown retired in 1966 while filming which movie in England?

Jim Brown, 30 and still the league's best back, announced his retirement from the London set of The Dirty Dozen in July 1966 after owner Art Modell threatened fines for missing camp.

The NFL's all-time receiving yards leader played college football for which school?

Jerry Rice chose Mississippi Valley State partly because coach Archie Cooley, nicknamed The Gunslinger, ran a pass-heavy offense; the 49ers drafted him 16th overall in 1985.

Who kicked the winning field goal in the NFL's longest game, a 1971 double-OT playoff?

Garo Yepremian's 37-yard field goal ended the Dolphins' 27-24 win over the Chiefs on Christmas Day 1971 after 82 minutes and 40 seconds of game time.

The Saints opened the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with what surprise play, widely seen as the turning point?

The onside kick by Thomas Morstead was recovered by New Orleans, the first in Super Bowl history before the fourth quarter, and the Saints beat the Colts 31–17.

Who was named MVP of the first two Super Bowls?

Bart Starr, the Packers quarterback, was MVP of Super Bowls I and II and also won the 1966 NFL MVP award.

Which NFL franchise was dubbed America's Team by an NFL Films editor?

NFL Films editor Bob Ryan titled the Dallas Cowboys' 1978 highlight reel 'America's Team' after their Super Bowl XIII loss, and rival fans have mocked the nickname ever since.

Which Packers safety performed the first Lambeau Leap in December 1993?

LeRoy Butler took a lateral from Reggie White and scored against the Raiders, then jumped into the bleachers; Robert Brooks later made the leap a habit.