Difference between revisions of "National Football League" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox sports league
 
{{Infobox sports league
 
| title          = National Football League
 
| title          = National Football League
 
<!--| current_season = 2007 NFL season—>
 
<!--| current_season = 2007 NFL season—>
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| logo          = National Football League.svg
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| logo          =  
 
| pixels        = 100px
 
| pixels        = 100px
 
| sport          = [[American football]]
 
| sport          = [[American football]]
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| teams          = 32, divided into two sixteen-team conferences, each of which consists of four four-team divisions.
 
| teams          = 32, divided into two sixteen-team conferences, each of which consists of four four-team divisions.
 
| country        = {{USA}}
 
| country        = {{USA}}
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| champion      = [[Indianapolis Colts]]
+
| champion      = [[New England Patriots]]
 
| website        = [http://www.nfl.com NFL.com]
 
| website        = [http://www.nfl.com NFL.com]
 
| ceo            = [[Roger Goodell]] (Commissioner)
 
| ceo            = [[Roger Goodell]] (Commissioner)
−
| TV            = [[NFL on CBS|CBS]], [[NFL on FOX|FOX]], [[Monday Night Football|ESPN]], [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]], [[Run to the Playoffs|NFL Network]]  
+
| TV            = [[NFL on CBS|CBS]]<br />[[Fox NFL|Fox]]<br />[[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]]<br />[[Monday Night Football|ESPN]]<br />[[Thursday Night Football|NFL Network]]<br />[[Telemundo]]
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''National Football League''' ('''NFL''') is the largest and most prestigious professional [[American football]] [[Sports league|league]], consisting of thirty-two teams from [[United States|American]] cities and regions. The league's teams are divided into two conferences: the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) and the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC). Each conference is then further divided into four [[Division (sport)|divisions]] consisting of four teams each, labeled North, South, East, and West. During the league's [[season (sport)|regular season]], each team plays sixteen games over a seventeen-week period, generally from September to December. At the end of each regular season, six teams from each conference play in the [[NFL playoffs]], a twelve-team [[single-elimination tournament]] that culminates with the NFL championship, the [[Super Bowl]]. This game is held at a pre-selected site which is usually a city that hosts an NFL team. One week later, selected all-star players from both the AFC and NFC meet in the [[Pro Bowl]], currently held in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]].
+
The '''National Football League''' '''(NFL)''' is the largest and most prestigious professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from [[United States]] cities and regions. The league's teams are divided into two conferences: The [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) and the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC). Each conference is then further divided into four divisions consisting of four teams each, labeled North, South, East, and West. During the league's regular season, each team plays sixteen games over a seventeen-week period, generally from September to December. At the end of each regular season, six teams from each conference play in the NFL playoffs, a twelve-team single-elimination tournament that culminates with the NFL championship, the [[Super Bowl]]. This game is held at a pre-selected site which is usually a city that hosts an NFL team. One week later, selected all-star players from both the AFC and NFC meet in the [[Pro Bowl]], currently held in Honolulu, [[Hawaii]]. The Super Bowl is the most watched event in America every year and Super Bowl weekend has become an almost unofficial national holiday.
−
The NFL was formed in 1920 as the '''American Professional Football Association''' and adopted the name National Football League in 1922. The NFL is one of the [[major professional sports league]]s of [[North America]], a group also including [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Basketball Association]], [[Major League Soccer]] and the [[National Hockey League]]. The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the [[United States]], and has the [[List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues|highest per-game attendance]] of any domestic professional sports league in the world, drawing over 67,000 spectators per game for its most recently completed season in [[2006 NFL season|2006]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9908132 |title=NFL sets paid attendance record| date=2001-01-04|accessdate=2007-04-13 |author=NFL News}}</ref>
+
{{toc}}
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+
The NFL was formed in 1920 as the '''American Professional Football Association''' and adopted the name National Football League in 1922. The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the [[United States]], and has the highest per-game attendance of any domestic professional sports league in the world, averaging over 67,000 spectators per game.
 +
[[Image:NFL teams locations.PNG|thumb|300px|right|Locations of teams in the NFL, shown by conference and division.]]
 
==History==
 
==History==
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
 
−
|+ '''Total NFL championships'''<ref>Lists the franchises with greater than or equal to three titles, and tallies only the amount of titles collected in the National Football League (1920&ndash;1969) and Super Bowl era (1970&ndash;present), AAFC and AFL titles are not included.</ref>
 
−
!width="145" | Team
 
−
!align="center" width="55" | Titles
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Green Bay Packers]]
 
−
| 12
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Chicago Bears]]
 
−
| 9
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[New York Giants]]
 
−
| 6
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis Colts]]
 
−
| 5
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
 
−
| 5
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[San Francisco 49ers]]
 
−
| 5
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Washington Redskins]]
 
−
| 5
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Dallas Cowboys]]
 
−
| 5
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Cleveland Browns]]
 
−
| 4
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Detroit Lions]]
 
−
| 3
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[New England Patriots]]
 
−
| 3
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland Raiders]]
 
−
| 3
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
 
−
| 3
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]]
 
−
| 3
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Arizona Cardinals|Chicago Cardinals]]
 
−
| 2
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Denver Broncos]]
 
−
| 2
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Miami Dolphins]]
 
−
| 2
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]
 
−
| 1
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Minnesota Vikings]]
 
−
| 1
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" | [[Baltimore Ravens]]
 
−
| 1
 
−
|-
 
−
| align="center" colspan="6" | {{further|<br />[[History of NFL Championships#Championships per Franchise|List of total NFL champions]]}}
 
−
|}
 
  
−
===Early era===
+
===Pre-1900: Walter Camp and the invention of football===
−
{{see|History of American football}}
+
The game of American Football was created in 1876 by [[Walter Camp]], often referred to as the father of American Football. As time elapsed, on November 12, 1892, Yale All-America guard William (Pudge) Heffelfinger was paid $500 by the AAA to play in a game against the PAC, becoming the first person to be paid to play football. In 1899, Chris O'Brien formed a neighborhood team, which played under the name the Morgan Athletic Club, on the south side of Chicago. The team later became known as the Normals, then the Racine (for a street in Chicago) Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and, in 1994, the Arizona Cardinals. The team remains the oldest continuing operation in pro football.
  
−
[[Image:NFL 1960.gif|thumb|left|150px|National Football League logo (1960–1969)]]
+
The road to modern football was a difficult one. There were various attempts at forming the National Football League. The first such one was in 1902, and was somewhat successful. However, due to complete disorganization, players were able to move from one team to another without any restrictions. The highest bidder would earn their services. Not only this, but dramatic rising salaries and the use of players still in college conflicted with many of the goals of the league. This in turn, forced people to think about a league in which all players would be bound to similar restrictions and rules.
−
The American Professional Football Association was founded in 1920 at a [[Hupmobile]] dealership in [[Canton, Ohio]]. Legendary athlete [[Jim Thorpe]] was elected president. The group of eleven teams, all but one in the Midwest, was originally less a league than an agreement not to rob other teams' players. In the early years, APFA members continued to play non-APFA teams.
 
  
−
In 1921, the APFA began releasing official standings, and the following year, the group changed its name to the National Football League. However, the NFL was hardly a major league in the 1920s. Teams entered and left the league frequently. Franchises included such colorful representatives as the [[Providence Steam Rollers]], the [[Decatur Staleys]], and the [[LaRue, Ohio]] [[Oorang Indians]], an all-[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] outfit that also put on a performing dog show.
+
===1920s American Professional Football Association===
 +
The American Professional Football Association was founded in 1920 at a Hupmobile dealership in [[Canton]], [[Ohio]]. Legendary athlete [[Jim Thorpe]] was elected president. The group of eleven teams, all but one in the Midwest, was originally less a league than an agreement not to rob other teams' players. In the early years, APFA members continued to play non-APFA teams.
  
−
Yet as former college stars like [[Red Grange]] and [[Benny Friedman]] began to test the professional waters, the pro game slowly began to increase in its popularity. By 1934 all of the small-town teams, with the exception of the [[Green Bay Packers]], had moved to or been replaced by teams in big cities. One factor in the league's rising popularity was the institution of an annual [[National Football League championships|championship game]] in 1933.
+
In 1921, however, the APFA began releasing official standings, and the following year, the group changed its name to the National Football League. The Chicago Bears of present day also came to existence in 1922. However, the NFL was hardly a major league in the 1920s. Teams entered and left the league frequently. Franchises included such colorful representatives as the Providence Steam Rollers, the Decatur Staleys, and the LaRue, Ohio Oorang Indians, an all-Native Americans in the United States outfit that also put on a performing dog show.
  
−
{{main|Black players in American professional football}}
+
1926 marked the rise and fall of the American Football League. After failing to get star [[Red Grange]] a five-figure contract and a third part in ownership, Grange's manager, C.C. Pyle broke away from the National Football League and formed the American Football League (AFL). Unfortunately, this experience fell apart as the AFL folded at season's end. In 1926, a rule was passed that prohibited college students from signing whose class had not yet graduated.
−
1933 was also the year that [[Black players in American professional football|black players]] disappeared from the NFL, just after the acceptance into the league of Boston Braves owner [[George Preston Marshall]], who effectively dissuaded other NFL owners from employing black players until the mid-forties, and who kept blacks off his team (which eventually became the Washington Redskins) until he was forced to integrate by the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration in 1962.<ref>{{cite book | author=Charles K. Ross | title=Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League | publisher=New York University Press | year=1999 | id=ISBN 0-8147-7495-4 }}</ref>
 
  
−
By the end of [[World War II]], pro football began to rival the college game for fans' attention. The spread of the [[T formation]] led to a faster-paced, higher-scoring game that attracted record numbers of fans. In 1945, the [[Cleveland Rams]] moved to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], becoming the first big-league sports franchise on the West Coast. In 1950, the NFL accepted three teams from the defunct [[All-America Football Conference]], expanding to thirteen clubs.
+
It seemed as though football would remain an experiment, a dream in the making forever. Yet as former college stars like Red Grange and Benny Friedman began to test the professional waters, the pro game slowly began to increase in its popularity. One factor in the league's rising popularity was the institution of an annual [[National Football League]] championships in 1933, and the forming of two divisions to create structure in the National Football League.
  
−
In the 1950s, pro football finally earned its place as a major sport. The NFL embraced television, giving Americans nationwide a chance to follow stars like [[Bobby Layne]], [[Paul Hornung]], [[Otto Graham]], and [[Johnny Unitas]]. The 1958 NFL championship played in [[Yankee Stadium]] but blacked out by league policy in [[New York City|New York]] drew record TV viewership and made national celebrities out of Unitas and his [[Baltimore Colts]] teammates.
+
===1930s: Green Bay dominance, disappearance of African-American players, and the birth of the bowl===
 +
The Packers won an unprecedented third consecutive title, beating out the Spartans, who were led by rookie backs Earl (Dutch) Clark and Glenn Presnell.  
  
−
[[Image:AmericanFootballLeague.png|150px|right]]
+
Up till now, there had been no real [[Segregation|racial barriers]]. However, in 1933, black players disappeared from the NFL. Not surprisingly enough, this occurred just after the acceptance of Boston Braves owner [[George Preston Marshall]], who effectively dissuaded other NFL owners from employing black players until the mid-forties. In fact, he kept blacks off his team (which eventually became the Washington Redskins) until he was forced to integrate by the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration in 1962.<ref>Charles K. Ross, ''Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League'' (NYU Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0814774953).</ref>
−
The rise of professional football was so fast that by the mid-[[1960s]], it had surpassed [[baseball]] as Americans' favorite spectator sport in some surveys. When the NFL turned down [[Lamar Hunt]]'s request to purchase either an existing or expansion NFL franchise, he formed the rival [[American Football League]] (AFL), in 1960. He encouraged, wheedled, and cajoled seven other like-minded men to form this new league. The group of the eight founders of the AFL teams was referred to as the "Foolish Club." One of them, fellow [[Texas|Texan]] [[Bud Adams]] of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], had likewise tried but failed to be granted an NFL franchise. Hunt's goal was to bring professional football to Texas and to acquire an NFL team for the Hunt family.
 
  
−
The AFL introduced features that the NFL did not have, such as wider-open passing offenses, players' names on their jerseys, and an official clock visible to fans so that they knew the time remaining in a period (the NFL kept time by a game referee's watch, and only periodically announced the actual time). The newer league also secured itself financially after it established the precedents for gate and television [[revenue sharing]] between all of its teams, and [[network television]] broadcasts of all of its games. While the NFL virtually ignored small and historically black colleges as a source of player talent, the AFL actively recruited from such schools and AFL teams installed blacks at positions from which they were tacitly excluded in the NFL, such as quarterback[http://www.collegefootball.org/news.php?id=545] and middle linebacker[http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/special_packages/lamar_hunt/16243715.htm].
+
1939 marked the existence of the [[Pro Bowl]]. The Pro Bowl is a game to honor the league's All-Star players who have performed at the highest level. Initially, it was a game featuring the championships team against a group of the league's best individual players. The first Pro Bowl game took place at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, on January 15, 1939. The title winners, New York Giants, defeated the Pro Bowl All-Stars 13-10.
  
−
The AFL also forced the NFL to expand: The [[Dallas Cowboys]] were created to counter Hunt's AFL [[Dallas Texans (AFL)|Dallas Texans]] franchise. The Texans moved the franchise to Kansas City as the Chiefs in 1963; the [[Minnesota Vikings]] were the NFL franchise given to Max Winter for abandoning the AFL; and the [[Atlanta Falcons]] franchise went to Rankin Smith to dissuade him from purchasing the AFL's [[Miami Dolphins]].
+
In the same year, an NFL game was televised for the first time when NBC broadcast the Brooklyn Dodgers-Philadelphia Eagles game from Ebbets Field to the approximately 1,000 sets then in New York.  
  
−
The ensuing costly war for players between the NFL and AFL almost derailed the sport's ascent. By 1966, the leagues agreed to [[AFL-NFL Merger|merge]] as of the 1970 season. The ten AFL teams joined three existing NFL teams to form the NFL's [[American Football Conference]]. The remaining thirteen NFL teams became the [[National Football Conference]]. Another result of the merger was the creation of an AFL-NFL Championship game that for four years determined the so-called "World Championship of Professional Football". After the merger, the then-renamed [[Super Bowl]] became the NFL's championship game.
+
Green Bay defeated New York 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game, December 10 at Milwaukee. NFL attendance exceeded 1 million in a season for the first time, reaching 1,071,200.
  
−
===Modern era===
+
===1940s: In the midst of war ===
−
In the 1970s and [[1980s]], the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport and its important role in American culture. The Super Bowl became an unofficial national holiday and the top-rated TV program most years. ''[[Monday Night Football]]'', which first aired in 1970 brought in high ratings by mixing sports and entertainment. Rules changes in the late 1970s ensured a fast-paced game with lots of passing to attract the casual fan.
+
The beginning of the decade saw [[Elmer Layden]] appointed as the first commissioner of the NFL on March 1, 1940; Storck, the acting president, resigned, April 5, 1940. The NFL headquarters were also moved to Chicago during the year.  
  
−
The founding of the [[United States Football League]] in the early 1980s was the biggest challenge to the NFL in the post-merger era. The USFL was a well-financed competitor with big-name players and a national television contract. However, the USFL failed to make money and folded after three years.
+
The contract of Commissioner Layden was not renewed, and Bert Bell, the co-owner of the Steelers, replaced him on January 11, 1946. Bell moved the league headquarters again: from Chicago to the Philadelphia suburb of Bala-Cynwyd.  
  
−
In recent years, the NFL has expanded into new markets and ventures. In 1986, the league began holding a series of pre-season exhibition games, called [[American Bowl]]s, held at international sites outside the United States. Then in 1991, the league formed the World League of American Football, (now [[NFL Europa]]), a developmental league now with teams in [[Germany]] and the [[Netherlands]]. The league played a regular-season NFL game in [[Mexico City]] in 2005 and intends to play more such games in other countries. In 2003, the NFL launched its own cable-television channel, [[NFL Network]].
+
The racial barrier for [[African-American]]s was broken when halfback [[Kenny Washington]] (March 21, 1946) and end [[Woody Strode]] (May 7, 1946) signed with the Los Angeles Rams to become the first African-Americans to play in the NFL in the modern era. Guard [[Bill Willis]] (August 6, 1946) and running back [[Marion Motley]] (August 9, 1946) joined the AAFC with the Cleveland Browns.
  
−
The NFL proper has announced that there will be a regular season game between the [[Miami Dolphins]] and the [[New York Giants]] for the first time ever, this game will be held in [[Wembley Stadium]], the new 90,000-seat stadium in London. It is expected to be a great success with nearly 40,000 tickets already sold<ref name=SELL>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfllondon2007.com/news.aspx?id=36|title=NFL sells 40,000 tickets in 90 minutes}}</ref>. This game is to be played on [[October 28]], 2007. It is also expected to be one of the most watched regular season games in history, due to it being the first regular season game away from North America.
+
By the end of [[World War II]], pro football began to rival the college game for fans' attention. The spread of the T formation led to a faster-paced, higher-scoring game that attracted record numbers of fans. In 1945, the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, California, becoming the first big-league sports franchise on the West Coast. In 1950, the NFL accepted three teams from the defunct All-America Football Conference, expanding to thirteen clubs.
  
−
===Franchise relocations and mergers===
+
===1950s: NFL rising in popularity===
−
{{details|NFL franchise moves and mergers}}
+
In the 1950s, pro football finally earned its place as a major sport. Slowly, but surely, the sport was rising in popularity. The NFL embraced [[television]], giving Americans nationwide a chance to follow stars like [[Bobby Layne]], [[Paul Hornung]], [[Otto Graham]], and [[Johnny Unitas]]. The 1958 NFL championship was played in Yankee Stadium and drew record TV viewership, making national celebrities out of Unitas and his Baltimore Colts teammates as [[Don Ameche]] scored the winning touchdown in overtime in one of the more exciting championship games ever played. It came at precisely the right moment to spur greater fan interest. That same year, the league changed its name from National Football League to National-American Football League. This change, however, lasted only three months before it reverted back to the original National Football League (NFL).
−
In the early years, the league was not stable and teams moved frequently. Franchise mergers were popular during World War II in response to the scarcity of players.
 
  
−
Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in Cleveland (the Rams and the Browns), Baltimore (the Colts), Houston (the Oilers) and St. Louis (the Cardinals), each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left (the Browns, Ravens, Texans and the Rams respectively). However, Los Angeles, the second-largest media market in the United States, has not had an NFL team since 1994 after both the Raiders and the Rams relocated elsewhere.
+
In addition, the Pro Bowl game that had been dormant since 1942 was revived under a new format. It matched the all-stars of each conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The American Conference defeated the National Conference 28-27, January 14, 1951.  
  
−
Additionally, with the increasing suburbanization of the U.S., the building of new stadiums and other team facilities in the suburbs instead of the central city became popular from the 1970s on, though at the turn of the millennium a reverse shift back to the central city became somewhat evident.
+
The sudden-death overtime rule was used for the first time in a pre-season game between the Rams and Giants at Portland, Oregon, August 28, 1955. The Rams won 23-17 three minutes into overtime.  
  
−
==Season structure==
+
The 1956 was a season of changes. It marked the founding of the National Football League (NFL) Players Association. [[CBS]] became the first network to broadcast some NFL regular-season games to selected television markets across the nation.  
−
As of 2006, The NFL season features:
 
−
*A 4-game [[National Football League exhibition season|exhibition season]] (or preseason) running from early August to early September
 
−
*A 16-game, 17-week [[Regular Season (NFL)|regular season]] running from September to December or early January
 
−
*A team does not win a championship or any trophy for having the best record during the regular season, but the league does recognize a champion for each of the 8 divisions.  
 
−
*A 12-team [[NFL Playoffs|playoff tournament]] beginning in January culminating in the [[Super Bowl]] in early February.
 
−
*The winner of the Super Bowl is the NFL Champion.
 
−
 
 
−
===Exhibition season===
 
−
{{main|National Football League exhibition season}}
 
−
Summers see most NFL teams playing four [[exhibition game]]s (referred to by the NFL as "pre-season games"; the league discourages the use of the term "exhibition game") from early August through early September. Two "featured" pre-season games, the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame Game]] and [[American Bowl]], do not count toward the normal allotment of four games, so the four teams playing in those games each end up playing five exhibition games.
 
  
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The games are useful for new players that are not used to playing in front of very large crowds. Management often uses the games to evaluate newly signed players. Veteran starters will generally play only for about a quarter of each game so they can avoid injury.
+
The decade closed with the creation of a rival league on August 22, 1959. For the fourth time, the American Football League was created to rival the National Football League by [[Lamar Hunt]].
  
−
===Playoffs===
+
===1960s, AFL-NFL merger and the Super Bowl===
−
[[Image:NFL playoff tree.PNG|thumb|right|400px|The NFL Playoffs. Each of the 4 division winners is seeded 1–4 based on their W-L-T records. The two Wild Card teams (labeled Wild Card 1 and 2) are seeded 5th and 6th (with the better of the two having seed 5) regardless of their records compared to the 4 division winners.]]
+
The AFL adopted the two-point option on points after touchdowns on January 28, 1960. A no-tampering verbal pact, relative to players' contracts, was agreed to between the NFL and AFL, February 9, 1960. The NFL owners voted to allow the transfer of the Chicago Cardinals to St. Louis, March 13, 1960.  
−
{{main|NFL playoffs}}
 
  
−
The season concludes with a 12-team tournament used to determine the teams to play in the [[Super Bowl]]. The [[Bracket (tournament)|tournament brackets]] are made up of six teams from each of the league's two conferences, the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) and the [[National Football Conference]] (NFC), following the end of the 16-game regular season:
+
Later, the AFL signed a five-year television contract with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], June 9, 1960. The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 28-7 before 16,000 at Buffalo in the first AFL preseason game, July 30, 1960. The Denver Broncos defeated the Patriots 13-10 before 21,597 at Boston in the first AFL regular-season game, September 9 of the same year.
  
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*The four division champions from each conference (the team in each division with the best regular season won-lost-tied record), which are [[Single-elimination tournament#Seeding|seeded]] 1 through 4 based on their regular season won-lost-tied record.
+
In 1961, the Houston Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 before 32,183 in the first AFL Championship Game, January 1. Detroit defeated Cleveland 17-16 in the first Playoff Bowl, or Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, between second-place teams in each conference in Miami, January 7, 1961.  
−
*Two [[Wild card (sports)#National Football League|wild card]] qualifiers from each conference (those non-division champions with the conference's best won-lost-tied percentages), which are seeded 5 and 6.
 
  
−
The 3 and the 6 seeded teams, and the 4 and the 5 seeds, face each other during the first round of the playoffs, dubbed the '''Wild Card Playoffs''' (the league in recent years has also used the term '''Wild Card Weekend'''). The 1 and the 2 seeds from each conference receive a ''[[bye]]'' in the first round, which entitles these teams to automatically advance to the second round, the '''Divisional Playoff''' games, to face the Wild Card survivors. In any given playoff round, the highest surviving seed always plays the lowest surviving seed. And in any given playoff game, whoever has the higher seed gets the home field advantage (i.e. the game is held at the higher seed's home field).
+
The Western Division defeated the Eastern Division 47-27 in the first AFL All-Star Game, played before 20,973 in San Diego, January 7, 1962.  
  
−
The two surviving teams from the Divisional Playoff games meet in '''Conference Championship''' games, with the winners of those contests going on to face one another in the [[Super Bowl]].
+
The rise of professional football was so fast that by the mid-1960s, it had surpassed [[baseball]] as Americans' favorite spectator sport in some surveys. When the NFL turned down [[Lamar Hunt]]'s request to purchase either an existing or expansion NFL franchise, he formed the rival American Football League (AFL), in 1960. He encouraged, wheedled, and cajoled seven other like-minded men to form this new league. The group of the eight founders of the AFL teams was referred to as the "Foolish Club." One of them, fellow Texan [[Bud Adams]] of Houston, Texas, had likewise tried but failed to be granted an NFL franchise. Hunt's goal was to bring professional football to Texas and to acquire an NFL team for the Hunt family.
−
{{-}}
 
  
−
==Media==
+
The AFL introduced features that the NFL did not have, such as wider-open passing offenses, players' names on their jerseys, and an official clock visible to fans so that they knew the time remaining in a period (the NFL kept time by a game referee's watch, and only periodically announced the actual time). The newer league also secured itself financially after it established the precedents for gate and television revenue sharing between all of its teams, and network television broadcasts of all of its games. While the NFL virtually ignored small and historically black colleges as a source of player talent, the AFL actively recruited from such schools and AFL teams installed blacks at positions from which they were tacitly excluded in the NFL, such as quarterback and middle linebacker.
−
===Television===
 
−
{{Details|NFL on television}}
 
−
The television rights to the NFL are the most lucrative and expensive rights not only of any American sport, but of any American entertainment property. With the fragmentation of audiences due to the increased specialization of broadcast and cable TV networks, sports remain one of the few entertainment properties that not only can guarantee a large and diversified audience, but an audience that will watch in real time.
 
  
−
Annually, the Super Bowl often ranks among the most watched shows of the year. Four of [[Nielsen Media Research]]'s top ten programs are Super Bowls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nielsenmedia.com/ratings/topnetworktelecasts.htm|title=Nielson's Top 10 Ratings: Top 10 Network Telecasts of All Time|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> Networks have purchased a share of the broadcasting rights to the NFL as a means of raising the entire network's profile.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060906.gtnbc06/BNStory/Technology/home|title='''McKenna, Barrie''' "NBC hoping NFL, Internet will lead comeback", globeandmail.com, retrieved on October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
The AFL also forced the NFL to expand: The Dallas Cowboys were created to counter Hunt's AFL Dallas Texans (AFL) franchise. The Texans moved the franchise to Kansas City as the Chiefs in 1963; the Minnesota Vikings were the NFL franchise given to Max Winter for abandoning the AFL; and the Atlanta Falcons franchise went to [[Rankin Smith]] to dissuade him from purchasing the AFL's Miami Dolphins.
  
−
Under the current television contracts, which began during the 2006 season, regular season games are broadcast on five networks: [[CBS]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]], [[NBC]], [[ESPN]], and the [[NFL Network]]. Regionally shown games are broadcast on Sundays on CBS and FOX, carrying the AFC and NFC teams respectively (the traveling team deciding the broadcast station in the event of inter-Conference games). These games generally air at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. ET. Nationally televised games include [[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday night games]] (shown on NBC), [[ESPN Monday Night Football|Monday night games]] (shown on ESPN), the Thursday night NFL Kickoff Game, the annual [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Detroit Lions]] [[Thanksgiving Classic|Thanksgiving Day games]], and, as of 2006, select Thursday and Saturday games on the NFL network, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Football League.<ref name=TV>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/tvradio|title=NFL TV and Radio Broadcast Partner Schedule, NFL.com|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9398370|title="Bryant Gumbel, Cris Collinsworth to announce NFL Network games", NFL News, NFL.com, April 26, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
The ensuing costly war for players between the NFL and AFL almost derailed the sport's ascent. By 1966, the leagues agreed to AFL-NFL Merger as of the 1970 season. The ten AFL teams joined three existing NFL teams to form the NFL's American Football Conference. The remaining thirteen NFL teams became the National Football Conference. Another result of the merger was the creation of an AFL-NFL Championship game that for four years determined the so-called "World Championship of Professional Football." After the merger, the then-renamed [[Super Bowl]] became the NFL's championship game.
  
−
Additionally, satellite broadcast company [[DirecTV]] offers NFL Sunday Ticket, a subscription based package, that allows most Sunday daytime regional games to be watched.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=900046|title=NFL Sunday Ticket|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/ticket|title=NFL Sunday Ticket|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> This package is exclusive to DirecTV in the USA. In Canada, NFL Sunday Ticket is available on a per-provider distribution deal on both cable and satellite.
+
Green Bay earned the right to represent the NFL in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game by defeating Dallas 34-27, January 1, 1967. The same day, Kansas City defeated Buffalo 31-7 to represent the AFL. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 before 61,946 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first game between AFL and NFL teams, January 15, 1967. The winning players' share for the Packers was $15,000 each, and the losing players' share for the Chiefs was $7,500 each. The game was televised by both CBS and NBC. In fact, this game was later known as the first "Super Bowl," or Super Bowl I.  
  
−
===Radio===
+
The "sling-shot" goal post and a six-foot-wide border around the field were made standard in the NFL, February 22, 1967.  
−
Each NFL team has its own radio network and employs its announcers. Nationally, the NFL is heard on the [[Westwood One]] Radio Network, [[Sports USA Radio Network]] and in Spanish on [[Univision Radio]] and the [[United Stations Radio Network]]. Westwood One carries Sunday and Monday Night Football, all Thursday games, two Sunday afternoon contests and all post-season games, including the Pro Bowl. Sports USA Radio broadcasts two Sunday afternoon games every Sunday during the regular season.<ref name=TV>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/tvradio|title=NFL TV and Radio Broadcast Partner Schedule, NFL.com|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
  
−
The NFL also has a contract with [[Sirius Satellite Radio]], which provides news, analysis, commentary and game coverage for all games, as well as comprehensive coverage of the draft and off-season on its own channel, [[Sirius NFL Radio]].<ref name=TV>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/tvradio|title=NFL TV and Radio Broadcast Partner Schedule, NFL.com|</ref>
+
The AFL established a playoff format for the 1969 season, with the winner in one division playing the runner-up in the other, January 11, 1969. An AFL team won the Super Bowl for the first time, as the Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 at Miami, January 12, 1969 in Super Bowl III. The title Super Bowl was recognized by the NFL for the first time.
  
−
Internet radio broadcasts of all NFL games are managed through [[FieldPass]], a subscription service. Radio stations are, by rule, prohibited from streaming the games for free from their Web sites; however, there are numerous stations that break this rule. The ''[[NFL on Westwood One]]'' and the ''[[NFL on Sports USA Radio]]'' are not available on FieldPass.
+
===1970s and 1980s, growing popularity===
 +
Kansas City defeated Minnesota 23-7 in Super Bowl IV at New Orleans, January 11, 1970. The gross receipts of approximately $3.8 million were the largest ever for a one-day sports event.  
  
−
==Player contracts and compensation==<!-- [[Bill Schroeder]] links to this heading —>
+
Four-year television contracts, under which CBS would televise all NFC games and NBC all AFC games (except Monday night games) and the two would divide televising the Super Bowl and AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games, were announced, January 26, 1970.  
−
NFL players are all members of a [[labor union|union]] called the [[National Football League Players Association]] (NFLPA). The NFLPA negotiates the general minimum contract for all players in the league. This contract is called the [[collective bargaining|Collective Bargaining Agreement]] (CBA), and it is the central document that governs the negotiation of individual player contracts for all of the league's players. The current CBA has been in place since 1993, and amended in 1998 and again in 2006. The NFL has not had any labor-related work stoppages since the 1987 season, which is much longer than [[Major League Baseball]], the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] or the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. The current CBA expires at the end of the 2012 season.<ref name=CBA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, nflpa.org, As amended March 8, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref>
 
  
−
Players are tiered into three different levels with regards to their rights to negotiate for contracts:
+
Art Modell resigned as president of the NFL, March 12, 1970. Milt Woodard resigned as president of the AFL, March 13, 1970. Lamar Hunt was elected president of the AFC and [[George Halas]] was elected president of the NFC, March 19, 1970.  
−
*Players that have been drafted (see below), and have not yet played in their first year, may only negotiate with the team that drafted them.<ref name=CBA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, nflpa.org, As amended March 8, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref> If terms cannot be agreed upon, the players only recourse is to refuse to play ("sit out") until terms can be reached. Players often use the threat of sitting out as a means to force the hands of the teams that drafted them. For example, [[John Elway]] was drafted by the [[Baltimore Colts]] in 1983 but refused to play for them. He had a fallback option of [[baseball]], as he had played in the [[New York Yankees]] organization for two summers while at [[Stanford University|Stanford]]. The Colts traded his rights to the [[Denver Broncos]] and Elway agreed to play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnelway.com/bio.aspx|title=The Life and Football Career of John Elway, johnelway.com|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> [[Bo Jackson]] sat out an entire year in 1986, choosing to play baseball in the [[Kansas City Royals]] organization (and ultimately for the Royals themselves) rather than play for the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] who had drafted him. He reentered the draft the following year, and was drafted and subsequently signed with the [[Los Angeles Raiders]].<ref name=Bo>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/classic/bio/news/story?page=Jackson_Bo|title='''Flatter, Ron''' "Bo knows stardom and disappointment", ESPN.com CLASSIC/BIO, March 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
−
*Players that have played between 3–5 full seasons in the league, and whose contract has expired are considered "Restricted Free Agents" (see below). They have limited rights to negotiate with any club.<ref name=CBA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, nflpa.org, As amended March 8, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref>
 
−
*Players that have played 5 or more full seasons in the league, and whose contract has expired, are considered "Unrestricted Free Agents"(see below) and have unlimited rights to negotiate with any club. Teams may name a single player in any given year as a "Franchise Player"(see below), which eliminates much of that players negotiation rights. This is a limited right of the team, however, and affects only a small handful of players each year.<ref name=CBA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, nflpa.org, As amended March 8, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref>
 
  
−
Among the items covered in the CBA are:
+
The Super Bowl trophy was renamed the [[Vince Lombardi]] trophy on September 10, 1970, as a tribute to the man who changed the face of professional football. Lombardi passed away after losing his fight with cancer.
−
* The league minimum salary
 
−
* The salary cap
 
−
* The annual collegiate draft
 
−
* Rules regarding "free agency"
 
−
* Waiver rules
 
  
−
=== Salaries ===
+
Baltimore defeated Dallas 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds to go in Super Bowl V at Miami, January 17, 1971. The NBC telecast was viewed in an estimated 23,980,000 homes, the largest audience ever for a one-day sports event.   
−
A player's salary, as defined by the CBA, includes any "compensation in money, property, investments, loans or anything else of value to which an NFL player may be awarded" excluding such benefits as insurance and pension.  A salary can include an annual pay and a one-time "signing bonus" which is paid in full when the player signs his contract.  For the purposes of the salary cap (see below) the signing bonus is prorated over the life of the contract rather than to the year in which the signing bonus is paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=CBA|accessdate=2007-01-22}}</ref>
 
  
−
Player contracts are ''not'' guaranteed; teams are only required to pay on the contract as long as the player remains a member of the team. If the player is cut, or quits, for any reason, the balance of the contract is voided and the player receives no further compensation.<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Pittsburgh defeated Dallas 21-17 in Super Bowl X (1976) in Miami. The Steelers joined Green Bay and Miami as the only teams to win two Super Bowls; the Cowboys became the first wild-card team to play in the Super Bowl. The CBS telecast was viewed by an estimated 80 million people, the largest television audience in history. The 1970s would be dominated by the Steelers, who would win four Super Bowls.
  
−
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;margin:1em 0 1em 1em"
+
In the 1970s and 1980s, the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport and its important role in American culture. The Super Bowl became an unofficial national holiday and the top-rated TV program most years. ''Monday Night Football,'' which first aired in 1970 brought in high ratings by mixing sports and entertainment. Rules changes in the late 1970s ensured a fast-paced game with lots of passing to attract the casual fan.
−
|-
 
−
!Years Experience
 
−
!Minimum Salary<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
|0
 
−
|$285,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|1
 
−
|$360,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|2
 
−
|$435,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|3
 
−
|$510,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|4–6
 
−
|$595,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|7–9
 
−
|$720,000
 
−
|-
 
−
|10+
 
−
|$820,000
 
−
|}
 
  
−
Among other things, the CBA establishes a minimum salary for its players,<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> which is stepped-up as a player's years of experience increase. Players and their agents may negotiate with clubs for higher salaries, and frequently do. As of the 2005 NFL season, the highest paid player was [[Atlanta Falcons]] quarterback [[Michael Vick]], whose "cap value" was slightly under $8 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/playerdetail.aspx?player=2367|title=USATODAY Player Salaries Database—Detail for Michael Vick retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> The overall value of his contract is 10 years at $130 million, averaging $13 million a year, including signing bonuses and annual salary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/24/Sports/Vick_becomes_highest_.shtml|title="Vick becomes highest-paid player", St. Petersburg Times, December 24, 2004, retrieved October 30, 3006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>.
+
The founding of the United States Football League in the early 1980s was the biggest challenge to the NFL in the post-merger era. The USFL was a well-financed competitor with big-name players and a national television contract. However, the USFL failed to make money and folded after three years.
  
−
===Salary cap===
+
In recent years, the NFL has expanded into new markets and ventures. In 1986, the league began holding a series of pre-season exhibition games, called American Bowls, held at international sites outside the [[United States]]. Then in 1991, the league formed the World League of American Football, (the recently defunct NFL Europa), a developmental league with teams in Germany and the Netherlands.
−
The '''[[salary cap]]''' is defined as the maximum amount that a team may spend on player compensation, (see above) for all of its players combined. Unlike other leagues, for example the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] (which permits certain exemptions) or [[Major League Baseball]] (which has a "soft cap" enforced by "luxury taxes"), the NFL has a "hard cap:" an amount no team under any circumstances may exceed.
 
  
−
The NFL salary cap is calculated by a formula. It is defined by the current CBA to be 59.5% of the total projected league revenue for the upcoming year. This number, divided by the number of teams, determines an individual teams maximum salary cap. For 2006, this is approximately $102 million per team. For 2007, it is projected that this will rise to $109 million.<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Although no team is based in a foreign country, NFL teams now play a number of games in other countries. For example, Mexico hosted an NFL regular-season game, a 2005 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals known as "Fútbol Americano", and 39 international preseason games were played from 1986 to 2005 as part of the American Bowl series. The Jacksonville Jaguars began playing one home game a year at Wembley Stadium in London, England in 2013 as part of the NFL International Series. The Buffalo Bills played one home game every season at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as part of the Bills Toronto Series from 2008 to 2013.  
  
−
Teams and players often find creative ways to fit salaries under the salary cap. Early in the salary cap era, "signing bonuses" were used to give players a large chunk of money up front, and thus not count in the salary for the bulk of the contract. This led to a rule whereby all signing bonus are ''pro-rated'' equally for each year of the contract. Thus a player who receives a $10 million dollar signing bonus for a 5 year contract would count $2 million per year for the life of the contract, even though the full $10 million was paid up front during the first year of the contract. Also, if a team cuts any player, the signing bonus ceases to be pro-rated, and the entire balance of the bonus counts against the cap in the upcoming season. This is not true of a player's ''salary'' which terminates when the player is cut.<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
==Franchise relocations and mergers==
 +
In the early years, the league was not stable and teams moved frequently. Franchise mergers were popular during [[World War II]] in response to the scarcity of players.
  
−
Player contracts tend to be "back-loaded". This means that the contract is not divided equally among the time period it covers. Instead, the player earns progressively more and more each year. For instance, a player signing a 4-year deal worth $10 million may get paid $1 million the first year, $2 million the second year, $3 million the third year, and $4 million the fourth year. If a team cuts a player after the first year, the final 3 years do not count against the cap. However, the balance of any signing bonus still counts against the team that cut the player, and it counts ''in full'' the year after the player is cut.<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=http://askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp|title=Salary Cap FAQ, askthecommish.com, retrieved October 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in Cleveland (the Rams and the Browns), Baltimore (the Colts), Houston (the Oilers) and St. Louis (the Cardinals), each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left (the Browns, Ravens, Texans and the Rams respectively). However, Los Angeles, the second-largest media market in the United States, has not had an NFL team since 1994 after both the Raiders and the Rams relocated elsewhere.
  
−
== Demographics of the NFL ==
+
==Season structure==
 +
As of 2006, The NFL season features:
 +
*A 4-game [[National Football League]] exhibition season (or preseason) running from early August to early September
 +
*A 16-game, 17-week regular season running from September to December or early January
 +
*A team does not win a championship or any trophy for having the best record during the regular season, but the league does recognize a champion for each of the 8 divisions.
 +
*A 12-team NFL Playoffs beginning in January culminating in the [[Super Bowl]] in early February.
 +
*The winner of the Super Bowl is the NFL Champion.
 +
 
 +
===Playoffs===
 +
[[Image:NFL playoff tree.PNG|thumb|right|400px|The NFL Playoffs. Each of the 4 division winners is seeded 1–4 based on their W-L-T records. The two Wild Card teams (labeled Wild Card 1 and 2) are seeded 5th and 6th (with the better of the two having seed 5) regardless of their records compared to the 4 division winners.]]
  
−
As of the beginning of the 2005 season, the players of the NFL were as follows:
+
The season concludes with a 12-team tournament used to determine the teams to play in the [[Super Bowl]]. The brackets are made up of six teams from each of the league's two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), following the end of the 16-game regular season:
  
−
* [[African American]] 1,107 or 64.1%,
+
*The four division champions from each conference (the team in each division with the best regular season won-lost-tied record), which are seeded 1 through 4 based on their regular season won-lost-tied record.
−
* [[White American]] 590 or 34.2%,
+
*Two Wild card qualifiers from each conference (those non-division champions with the conference's best won-lost-tied percentages), which are seeded 5 and 6.
−
* Other Race 31 or 1.8%.
 
  
−
As of the beginning of the 2006 season, the players of the NFL were as follows:
+
The 3 and the 6 seeded teams, and the 4 and the 5 seeds, face each other during the first round of the playoffs, dubbed the '''Wild Card Playoffs''' (the league in recent years has also used the term '''Wild Card Weekend'''). The 1 and the 2 seeds from each conference receive a ''bye'' in the first round, which entitles these teams to automatically advance to the second round, the '''Divisional Playoff''' games, to face the Wild Card survivors. In any given playoff round, the highest surviving seed always plays the lowest surviving seed. And in any given playoff game, whoever has the higher seed gets the home field advantage.
  
−
* [[African American]] 1,137 or 65.8%,
+
The two surviving teams from the Divisional Playoff games meet in '''Conference Championship''' games, with the winners of those contests going on to face one another in the [[Super Bowl]].
−
* [[White American]] 559 or 32.3%,
+
{{-}}
−
* Other Race 32 or 1.9%.
 
  
−
==The NFL Draft==
+
==Media==
−
{{Details|NFL Draft}}
+
===Television===
 +
The [[television]] rights to the NFL are the most lucrative and expensive rights not only of any American sport, but of any American entertainment property. With the fragmentation of audiences due to the increased specialization of broadcast and cable TV networks, sports remain one of the few entertainment properties that not only can guarantee a large and diversified audience, but an audience that will watch in real time.
  
−
Every year during April, each NFL franchise seeks to add new players to its roster through a collegiate draft known as "[[NFL draft|the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting]]", which is more commonly known as the NFL Draft.
+
Annually, the Super Bowl often ranks among the most watched shows of the year.  
  
−
Teams are ranked in inverse order based on the previous season's record, with the worst record picking first, and the second worst picking second and so on. The two exceptions to this order are made for teams that appeared in the previous Super Bowl; the Super Bowl champion ''always'' picks 32nd, and the Super Bowl loser ''always'' picks 31st.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/od/miscinformation/a/detdraftorder.htm|title='''Alder, James''', "NFL Draft Basics:Determining Order of Selection", football.about.com, Retrieved November 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Under the current television contracts, which began during the 2006 season, regular season games are broadcast on five networks: [[CBS]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company]], [[NBC]], [[ESPN]], and the [[NFL Network]]. Regionally shown games are broadcast on Sundays on CBS and FOX, carrying the AFC and NFC teams respectively (the traveling team deciding the broadcast station in the event of inter-Conference games). These games generally air at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. ET. Nationally televised games include NBC Sunday Night Football, ESPN Monday Night Football, the Thursday night NFL Kickoff Game, the annual Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions [[Thanksgiving]] Day games, and, as of 2006, select Thursday and Saturday games on the NFL network, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Football League.<ref name=TV>NFL, [http://www.nfl.com/tvradio NFL TV and Radio Broadcast Partner Schedule.] Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref>
  
−
The draft proceeds for 7 rounds. Rounds 1–3 are run on Saturday of draft weekend, rounds 4–7 are run on Sunday. Teams are given a limited amount of time to make their picks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/library/weekly/bl_drafttimelimits.htm|title="NFL Draft Basics:Time Limits by Round football.about.com, retrieved November 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> If the pick is not made in the allotted time, subsequent teams in the draft may draft before them. This happened in 2003 to the Minnesota Vikings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/overview/vikings2003.html|title='''Black, James C.''' " Off-season Overview: Minnesota Vikings" May 29, 2003, ESPN.com, retrieved November 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Additionally, satellite broadcast company DirecTV offers NFL Sunday Ticket, a subscription based package, that allows most Sunday daytime regional games to be watched. This package is exclusive to DirecTV in the U.S. In Canada, NFL Sunday Ticket is available on a per-provider distribution deal on both cable and satellite.
  
−
Teams have the option of trading away their picks to other teams for different picks, players, cash, or a combination thereof. While player-for-player trades are rare during the rest of the year (especially in comparison to the other major league sports), trades are far more common on draft day. In 1989, in arguably the most famous draft day trade ever, the [[Dallas Cowboys]] traded running back [[Herschel Walker]] to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] for five veteran players and six draft picks over 3 years. The Cowboys would use these picks to leverage trades for additional draft picks and veteran players. As a direct result of this trade, they would draft many of the stars that would help them win 3 Super Bowls in the 1990s, including  [[Emmitt Smith]], [[Russell Maryland]] and [[Darren Woodson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vikings.scout.com/2/11653.html|title="The Herschel Walker Trade", Scout.com, Retrieved November 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
===Radio===
 +
Each NFL team has its own [[radio]] network and employs its announcers. Nationally, the NFL is heard on the [[Westwood One Radio Network]], [[Sports USA Radio Network]] and in Spanish on Univision Radio and the United Stations Radio Network. Westwood One carries Sunday and Monday Night Football, all Thursday games, two Sunday afternoon contests and all post-season games, including the Pro Bowl. Sports USA Radio broadcasts two Sunday afternoon games every Sunday during the regular season.<ref name=TV/>
  
−
The first pick in the draft is often taken to be the best overall player in the rookie class.  This may or may not be true, since teams often select players based more on needs than on overall skill.  Plus, comparing players at different positions is difficult to do.  Still, it is considered a great honor to be a first-round pick, and a greater honor to be the first overall pick.  The very last pick in the draft is known as [[Mr. Irrelevant]], and is the subject of a dinner in his honor in [[Newport Beach, California]].
+
The NFL also has a contract with [[Sirius Satellite Radio]], which provides news, analysis, commentary and game coverage for all games, as well as comprehensive coverage of the draft and off-season on its own channel, Sirius NFL Radio.<ref name=TV/>
  
−
Drafted players may only negotiate with the team that drafted them (or to another team if their rights were traded away).  The drafting team has one year to sign the player.  If they do not do so, the player may reenter the draft and can be drafted by another team.  [[Bo Jackson]] famously sat out a season in this way.<ref name=Bo>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/classic/bio/news/story?page=Jackson_Bo|title='''Flatter, Ron''' "Bo knows stardom and disappointment", ESPN.com CLASSIC/BIO, March 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
+
Internet radio broadcasts of all NFL games are managed through FieldPass, a subscription service. Radio stations are, by rule, prohibited from streaming the games for free from their Web sites; however, there are numerous stations that break this rule. The ''NFL on Westwood One'' and the ''NFL on Sports USA Radio'' are not available on FieldPass.
  
−
{{see|List of NFL first overall draft choices}}
+
==The NFL Draft==
 +
{{Details|NFL Draft}}
  
−
== Free agency ==
+
Every year during April, each NFL franchise seeks to add new players to its roster through a collegiate draft known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting," which is more commonly known as the NFL Draft.
−
{{details|Free Agent#NFL Usage}}
 
  
−
=== General ===
+
Teams are ranked in inverse order based on the previous season's record, with the worst record picking first, and the second worst picking second and so on. The two exceptions to this order are made for teams that appeared in the previous Super Bowl; the Super Bowl champion always picks 32nd, and the Super Bowl loser always picks 31st.<ref>James Alder, [https://www.thoughtco.com/nfl-draft-basics-1335578 How the NFL Determines the Order Teams Select in For the Draft] ''ThoughtCo''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref>
−
As defined by the CBA, a '''free agent''' is any player who is not under contract to any team and thus has fully free rights to negotiate with any other team for new contract terms.<ref name=CBA>{{cite web|url=http://www.nflpa.org/CBA/CBA_Complete.aspx|title=COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NFL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND THE NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, nflpa.org, As amended March 8, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref><ref name=freeag>{{cite web|url=http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/|title=Free Agency 101, askthecommish.com, retrieved November 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> Free agents are classified into two categories: ''restricted'' and ''unrestricted''. Furthermore, a team may "tag" a player as a ''franchise'' or ''transition'', which places additional restrictions on that player's ability to negotiate. However, the ability to "tag" is quite limited, and only affects a handful of players each year.
 
  
−
Free agency in the NFL began with a limited free agency system known as "[[Plan B Free Agency]]", which was in effect between the 1989 and 1992 seasons. Beginning with the 1993 season, "[[Free Agent#NFL Usage|Plan A Free Agency]]" went into effect, which is the system which remains in the NFL today.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
+
The draft proceeds for 7 rounds. Rounds 1–3 are run on Saturday of draft weekend, rounds 4–7 are run on Sunday. Teams are given a limited amount of time to make their picks.<ref>Tim McDonald, [https://www.thoughtco.com/nfl-draft-time-limits-by-round-1335844 Find Out What the Time Limits for Each Round of the NFL Draft Is] ''ThoughtCo''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref> If the pick is not made in the allotted time, subsequent teams in the draft may draft before them.  
  
−
=== Restricted free agent ===
+
Teams have the option of trading away their picks to other teams for different picks, players, cash, or a combination thereof. While player-for-player trades are rare during the rest of the year (especially in comparison to the other major league sports), trades are far more common on draft day.  
−
A player who has more than 3 but less than 5 years of experience is eligible for '''restricted free agency''', whereby his current team has the chance to retain rights to this player by matching the highest offer any other NFL franchise might make to that player.  The club can either block a signing or, in essence, force a trade by offering a salary over a certain threshold. In 2006, these thresholds were as follows:
 
−
* If a club tenders an offer of $685,000 per year for a three year veteran, and $725,000 for a four year veteran, the player's current team has "right of first refusal" over the contract at those terms, and may sign the player at those terms.
 
−
* If a club tenders an offer of $712,000 or 110% (whichever is greater) of the previous year's salary, then the current club has both "right of first refusal" and rights to a draft pick from the same round (or better) from the signing club.  Essentially, this means that the new club must forfeit the draft pick to the old club if they wish to sign the player under these terms.
 
−
* If a club tenders an offer of $1.552 million or 110% (whichever is greater) of the previous year's salary, then the current club has both "right of first refusal"; and rights to the ''first round'' draft pick from the signing club.<ref name=freeag>{{cite web|url=http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/|title=Free Agency 101, askthecommish.com, retrieved November 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
  
−
=== Unrestricted free agent ===
+
The first pick in the draft is often taken to be the best overall player in the rookie class. This may or may not be true, since teams sometimes select players based more on needs, or signability than on overall skill. Still, it is considered a great honor to be a first-round pick, and a greater honor to be the first overall pick. The very last pick in the draft is known as Mr. Irrelevant, and is the subject of a dinner in his honor in Newport Beach, California.
−
A player who has 5 or more years of experience is eligible for '''unrestricted free agency''', whereby his current team has no guaranteed right to match outside offers to that player. This means that players in this category have unlimited rights to negotiate any terms with any team.<ref name=freeag>{{cite web|url=http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/|title=Free Agency 101, askthecommish.com, retrieved November 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
  
−
=== Franchise tag ===
+
Drafted players may only negotiate with the team that drafted them (or to another team if their rights were traded away). The drafting team has one year to sign the player. If they do not do so, the player may reenter the draft and can be drafted by another team.  
−
The '''franchise tag''' is a designation given to a player by a franchise that guarantees that player a contract the average of the five highest-paid players of that same position in the entire league, or 120% of the player's previous year's salary (whichever is greater) in return for retaining rights to that player for one year. An NFL franchise may only designate one player a year as having the franchise tag, and may designate the same player for consecutive years. This has caused some tension between some NFL franchise designees and their respective teams due to the fact that a player designated as a franchise player precludes that player from pursuing large signing bonuses that are common in unrestricted free agency, and also prevents a player from leaving the team, especially when the reasons for leaving are not necessarily financial.  A team may, at their discretion, allow the franchise player to negotiate with other clubs, but if they sign with another club, the first club is entitled to ''two'' first round draft picks in compensation.<ref name=freeag>{{cite web|url=http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/|title=Free Agency 101, askthecommish.com, retrieved November 6, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref>
 
  
 
== Steroid policy ==
 
== Steroid policy ==
−
The NFL steroid policy has been acclaimed by some [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21734-2005Apr28.html] and criticized by others[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/27/national/main691147_page3.shtml], but the policy is the longest running in professional sports, beginning in 1987. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21734-2005Apr28.html] The current steroid policy of the NFL suspends players without pay who test positive for banned substances as it has since 1989: four games for the first offense (a fourth of the regular season), eight games for a second offense (half of the regular season), and 12 months for a third offense. [http://www.nflpa.org/pdfs/RulesAndRegs/BannedSubstances.pdf] The suspended games may be either regular season games or playoff games. [http://www.nflpa.org/pdfs/RulesAndRegs/BannedSubstances.pdf]
+
The NFL steroid policy has been acclaimed by some and criticized by others, but the policy is the longest running in professional sports, beginning in 1987. The current steroid policy of the NFL suspends players without pay who test positive for banned substances as it has since 1989: Four games for the first offense (a fourth of the regular season), eight games for a second offense (half of the regular season), and 12 months for a third offense. The suspended games may be either regular season games or playoff games.
−
 
 
−
In comparison to the steroid policies of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the NFL has long been the most strict. While recently MLB and the NHL decided to permanently ban athletes for a third offense, they have long been resistant to such measures, and random testing is in its infancy. [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-11-15-steroids-agreement_x.htm] [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050928/NHL_doping_050928?s_name=&no_ads=]
 
  
−
Since the NFL started random, year-round tests and suspending players for performance enhancing drugs it has caught many more players using drugs. By April 2005, 111 NFL players had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and of those 111, the NFL suspended 54. Only two NFL players have ever tested positive more than once, and they both retired. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/27/national/main691147_page3.shtml]
+
In comparison to the steroid policies of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the NFL has long been the most strict. While recently MLB and the NHL decided to permanently ban athletes for a third offense, they have long been resistant to such measures, and random testing is in its infancy.
  
−
A new rule has been put into effect due to [[Shawne Merriman]]. Starting the 2007–2008 season, the new rule prohibits any player caught using performance enhancing drugs from being able to play in the [[Pro Bowl]] that year.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
+
Since the NFL started random, year-round tests and suspending players for performance enhancing drugs it has caught many more players using drugs. By April 2005, 111 NFL players had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and of those 111, the NFL suspended 54. Only two NFL players have ever tested positive more than once, and they both retired.
  
 
==Teams==
 
==Teams==
−
===Professional football and NFL champions===
 
−
* For a complete list of the winners of the various pre-[[AFL-NFL merger|Super Bowl]] era professional football leagues (NFL, AFL, and AAFC) and the [[Super Bowl]] era National Football League, see [[History of NFL Championships]]
 
−
* For a list of pre-Super Bowl era NFL champions, see [[List of NFL champions]]
 
−
* For a list of Super Bowl era champions, see [[List of Super Bowl champions]]
 
−
 
 
===Current NFL teams===
 
===Current NFL teams===
−
{{NFL Labelled Map|float=right}}
 
 
There are 32 NFL teams. Each club is allowed a maximum of 55 players, though nearly every team keeps only 53 on their final roster in case of injury, during the regular season. Unlike [[Major League Baseball]], [[Major League Soccer]], the [[National Basketball Association]] and the [[National Hockey League]], the league has no teams in [[Canada]] largely because of the historical existence of the [[Canadian Football League]].
 
There are 32 NFL teams. Each club is allowed a maximum of 55 players, though nearly every team keeps only 53 on their final roster in case of injury, during the regular season. Unlike [[Major League Baseball]], [[Major League Soccer]], the [[National Basketball Association]] and the [[National Hockey League]], the league has no teams in [[Canada]] largely because of the historical existence of the [[Canadian Football League]].
  
−
Most major [[Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|metropolitan areas]] in the United States have an NFL [[professional sports league organization|franchise]]; the notable exception is the [[Greater Los Angeles Area|Los Angeles]] area, from which both the [[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]] and [[St. Louis Rams|Rams]] relocated following the 1994 season. The NFL is able to utilize the possible relocation of a franchise to Los Angeles as leverage, for example when trying to persuade local governments to contribute to the cost of new stadiums for its other franchises.<ref name="Economist">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006-04-27 | url = http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6859210 | title = In a league of its own | format = | work = | publisher = The Economist|accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref> The [[Washington Redskins]] are the most lucrative sports team of all U.S. professional teams, valued at approximately $1.4 billion.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2568057
+
Most major [[Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|metropolitan areas]] in the United States have an NFL [[professional sports league organization|franchise]]; the notable exception is the [[Greater Los Angeles Area|Los Angeles]] area, from which both the [[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]] and [[St. Louis Rams|Rams]] relocated following the 1994 season. The NFL is able to utilize the possible relocation of a franchise to Los Angeles as leverage, for example when trying to persuade local governments to contribute to the cost of new stadiums for its other franchises.<ref name="Economist"> [http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6859210 In a league of its own.] ''The Economist'', April 27, 2006. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref>  
−
| title = Washington Redskins | format = | work = NFL Valuations | publisher = Forbes.com | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref>
 
  
−
{{-}} <!--Do not delete this template. This template "clears" both margins; it is often used before a header to make sure that the header will be the full width of the page. For further details, see the template talk page.—>
+
Since the 2002 season, the teams have been aligned as follows:
−
 
 
−
Since the 2002 season, the teams have been aligned as follows:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/news/2001/realignment.html | publisher=nfl.com | title=2002 Realignment | accessdate=2006-12-15}}</ref>
 
 
====American Football Conference====
 
====American Football Conference====
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
Line 321: Line 194:
 
!City/Area
 
!City/Area
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[AFC East|East]]
+
! rowspan="4" | AFC East
−
|'''[[Buffalo Bills]]''' <sup>1</sup>
+
|'''Buffalo Bills''' <sup>1</sup>
−
|[[Ralph Wilson Stadium]]
+
|New Era Field
−
|[[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park, New York]]
+
|Orchard Park (town), New York
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Miami Dolphins]]''' <sup>7</sup>
+
|'''Miami Dolphins''' <sup>7</sup>
−
|[[Dolphin Stadium]]
+
|Hard Rock Stadium
−
|[[Miami Gardens, Florida]]
+
|Miami Gardens, Florida
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[New England Patriots]]''' <sup>2</sup>
+
|'''New England Patriots''' <sup>2</sup>
−
|[[Gillette Stadium]]
+
|Gillette Stadium
−
|[[Foxborough, Massachusetts]]
+
|Foxborough, Massachusetts
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[New York Jets]]''' <sup>3</sup>
+
|'''New York Jets''' <sup>3</sup>
−
|[[Giants Stadium]]
+
|MetLife Stadium
−
|[[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]
+
|East Rutherford, New Jersey
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[AFC North|North]]
+
! rowspan="4" | AFC North|North
−
|'''[[Baltimore Ravens]]'''
+
|'''Baltimore Ravens'''
−
|[[M&T Bank Stadium]]
+
|M&T Bank Stadium
−
|[[Baltimore, Maryland]]
+
|Baltimore, Maryland
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Cincinnati Bengals]]''' <sup>8</sup>
+
|'''Cincinnati Bengals''' <sup>8</sup>
−
|[[Paul Brown Stadium]]
+
|Paul Brown Stadium
−
|[[Cincinnati, Ohio]]
+
|Cincinnati, Ohio
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Cleveland Browns]]'''
+
|'''Cleveland Browns'''
−
|[[Cleveland Browns Stadium]]
+
|FirstEnergy Stadium
−
|[[Cleveland, Ohio]]
+
|Cleveland, Ohio
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Pittsburgh Steelers]]'''
+
|'''Pittsburgh Steelers'''
−
|[[Heinz Field]]
+
|Heinz Field
−
|[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]
+
|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[AFC South|South]]
+
! rowspan="4" | AFC South
−
|'''[[Houston Texans]]'''
+
|'''Houston Texans'''
−
|[[Reliant Stadium]]
+
|NRG Stadium
−
|[[Houston, Texas]]
+
|Houston, Texas
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Indianapolis Colts]]'''
+
|'''Indianapolis Colts'''
−
|[[RCA Dome]]*
+
|Lucas Oil Stadium
−
|[[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
+
|Indianapolis, Indiana
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]'''
+
|'''Jacksonville Jaguars'''
−
|[[Jacksonville Municipal Stadium]]
+
|EverBank Field
−
|[[Jacksonville, Florida]]
+
|Jacksonville, Florida
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Tennessee Titans]]''' <sup>4</sup>
+
|'''Tennessee Titans''' <sup>4</sup>
−
|[[LP Field]]
+
|Nissan Stadium
−
|[[Nashville, Tennessee]]
+
|Nashville, Tennessee
 
|-
 
|-
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[AFC West|West]]
+
! rowspan="4" | AFC West
−
|'''[[Denver Broncos]]''' <sup>1</sup>
+
|'''Denver Broncos''' <sup>1</sup>
−
|[[Invesco Field at Mile High]]
+
|Sports Authority Field at Mile High
−
|[[Denver, Colorado]]
+
|Denver, Colorado
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]''' <sup>5</sup>
+
|'''Kansas City Chiefs''' <sup>5</sup>
−
|[[Arrowhead Stadium]]
+
|Arrowhead Stadium
−
|[[Kansas City, Missouri]]
+
|Kansas City, Missouri
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Oakland Raiders]]''' <sup>1</sup>
+
|'''Los Angeles Chargers''' <sup>6</sup>
−
|[[McAfee Coliseum]]
+
|StubHub Center
−
|[[Oakland, California]]
+
|Carson, California
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[San Diego Chargers]]''' <sup>6</sup>
+
|'''Oakland Raiders''' <sup>1</sup>
−
|[[Qualcomm Stadium]]
+
|Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
−
|[[San Diego, California]]
+
|Oakland, California
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
−
*<sup>1</sup> Original [[American Football League]] (AFL) franchise
+
*<sup>1</sup> Original American Football League (AFL) franchise
−
*<sup>2</sup> Original [[American Football League|AFL]] franchise, as the [[Boston Patriots]]
+
*<sup>2</sup> Original American Football League, as the Boston Patriots
−
*<sup>3</sup> Original [[American Football League|AFL]] franchise, as the [[New York Titans]]
+
*<sup>3</sup> Original American Football League, as the New York Titans
−
*<sup>4</sup> Original [[American Football League|AFL]] franchise, as the [[Houston Oilers]]
+
*<sup>4</sup> Original American Football League, as the Houston Oilers
−
*<sup>5</sup> Original [[American Football League|AFL]] franchise, as the [[Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans]]
+
*<sup>5</sup> Original American Football League, as the Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans
−
*<sup>6</sup> Original [[American Football League|AFL]] franchise, as the [[Los Angeles Chargers]]
+
*<sup>6</sup> Original American Football League, as the Los Angeles Chargers
−
*<sup>7</sup> [[American Football League|AFL]] expansion franchise (1966)
+
*<sup>7</sup> American Football League expansion franchise (1966)
−
*<sup>8</sup> [[American Football League|AFL]] expansion franchise (1968)
+
*<sup>8</sup> American Football League expansion franchise (1968)
−
*Colts are expected to move into the [[Lucas Oil Stadium]] in 2008.
 
  
 
====National Football Conference====
 
====National Football Conference====
Line 411: Line 283:
 
!City/Area
 
!City/Area
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[NFC East|East]]
+
! rowspan="4" |NFC East
−
|'''[[Dallas Cowboys]]'''
+
|'''Dallas Cowboys'''
−
|[[Texas Stadium]]*
+
|AT&T Stadium
−
|[[Irving, Texas]]*
+
|Arlington, Texas
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[New York Giants]]'''
+
|'''New York Giants'''
−
|[[Giants Stadium]]
+
|MetLife Stadium
−
|[[East Rutherfeild, New jerseey]]
+
|East Rutherfeild, New Jersey
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Philadelphia Eagles]]'''
+
|'''Philadelphia Eagles'''
−
|[[Lincoln Financial Field]]
+
|Lincoln Financial Field
−
|[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
+
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Washington Redskins]]'''
+
|'''Washington Redskins'''
−
|[[FedEx Field]]
+
|FedEx Field
−
|[[Landover, Maryland]]
+
|Landover, Maryland
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[NFC North|North]]
+
! rowspan="4" |NFC North
−
|'''[[Chicago Bears]]'''
+
|'''Chicago Bears'''
−
|[[Soldier Field]]
+
|Soldier Field
−
|[[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
+
|Chicago, Illinois
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Detroit Lions]]'''
+
|'''Detroit Lions'''
−
|[[Ford Field]]
+
|Ford Field
−
|[[Detroit, Michigan]]
+
|Detroit, Michigan
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Green Bay Packers]]'''
+
|'''Green Bay Packers'''
−
|[[Lambeau Field]]
+
|Lambeau Field
−
|[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
+
|Green Bay, Wisconsin
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Minnesota Vikings]]'''
+
|'''Minnesota Vikings'''
−
|[[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]]
+
|U.S. Bank Stadium
−
|[[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
+
|Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[NFC South|South]]
+
! rowspan="4" |NFC South
−
|'''[[Atlanta Falcons]]'''
+
|'''Atlanta Falcons'''
−
|[[Georgia Dome]]
+
|Mercedes-Benz Stadium
−
|[[Atlanta, Georgia]]
+
|Atlanta, Georgia
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Carolina Panthers]]'''
+
|'''Carolina Panthers'''
−
|[[Bank of America Stadium]]
+
|Bank of America Stadium
−
|[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
+
|Charlotte, North Carolina
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[New Orleans Saints]]'''
+
|'''New Orleans Saints'''
−
|[[Louisiana Superdome]]
+
|Mercedes-Benz Superdome
−
|[[New Orleans, Louisiana]]
+
|New Orleans, Louisiana
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]'''
+
|'''Tampa Bay Buccaneers'''
−
|[[Raymond James Stadium]]
+
|Raymond James Stadium
−
|[[Tampa, Florida]]
+
|Tampa, Florida
 
|-
 
|-
 
|-
 
|-
−
! rowspan="4" | [[NFC West|West]]
+
! rowspan="4" |NFC West
−
|'''[[Arizona Cardinals]]'''
+
|'''Arizona Cardinals'''
−
|[[University of Phoenix Stadium]]
+
|University of Phoenix Stadium
−
|[[Glendale, Arizona]]
+
|Glendale, Arizona
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[St. Louis Rams]]'''
+
|'''Los Angeles Rams'''
−
|[[Edward Jones Dome]]
+
|Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
−
|[[St. Louis, Missouri]]
+
|Los Angeles, California
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[San Francisco 49ers]]'''
+
|'''San Francisco 49ers'''
−
|[[Monster Park]]
+
|Levi's Stadium
−
|[[San Francisco, California]]
+
|Santa Clara, California
 
|-
 
|-
−
|'''[[Seattle Seahawks]]'''
+
|'''Seattle Seahawks'''
−
|[[Qwest Field]]
+
|CenturyLink Field
−
|[[Seattle, Washington]]
+
|Seattle, Washington
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
<nowiki>*</nowiki>The Dallas Cowboys will move into the [[New Cowboys Stadium]] in [[Arlington, TX]] by 2009.{{Fact|date=April 2007}}<br>
 
−
 
−
===Former NFL teams===
 
−
{{See|Defunct NFL teams}}
 
  
 
==Video games==
 
==Video games==
−
[[Electronic Arts]] publishes an NFL video game for current [[video game console]]s and for PCs each year, called ''[[Madden NFL]]'', being named after former coach and current football commentator [[John Madden (football)|John Madden]], who commentates the game along with [[Al Michaels]]. Prior to the 2005–2006&nbsp;football season, other NFL games were produced by competing [[video game publisher]]s, such as [[2K Games]] and [[Midway Games]]. However, in December 2004, Electronic Arts signed a five-year exclusive agreement with the NFL, meaning only Electronic Arts will be permitted to publish games featuring NFL team and player names. This prompted video game developer [[Midway Games]] to release a game in 2005 called ''[[Blitz: The League]]'', with fictitious teams such as the "Washington Redhawks", and make references to NFL players such as the Washington Redhawks left-handed QB "[[Michael Vick#Ron Mexico controversy|Ron Mexico]]", alluding to [[Michael Vick]] of the [[Atlanta Falcons]], who allegedly used the alias at a walk-in clinic. In August 2006, Madden 07 was released with Seattle running back [[Shaun Alexander]] on the cover. In August 2007, ''[[Madden NFL 08]]'' will be released with [[Vince Young]] on the cover.
+
Electronic Arts publishes an NFL video game for current video game consoles and for PCs each year, called ''Madden NFL,'' being named after former coach and current football commentator John Madden, who commentates the game along with Al Michaels. Prior to the 2005–2006 football season, other NFL games were produced by competing video game publishers, such as 2K Games and Midway Games. However, in December 2004, Electronic Arts signed a five-year exclusive agreement with the NFL, meaning only Electronic Arts will be permitted to publish games featuring NFL team and player names. This prompted video game developer Midway Games to release a game in 2005 called ''Blitz: The League,'' with fictitious teams such as the "Washington Redhawks," and make references to NFL players such as the Washington Redhawks' left-handed QB "[[Michael Vick|Ron Mexico]]," alluding to Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, who allegedly used the alias at a walk-in clinic. In August 2006, Madden 07 was released with Seattle running back Shaun Alexander on the cover. In August 2007, ''Madden NFL 08'' will be released with Vince Young on the cover.
−
 
 
−
==Commissioners and presidents==
 
−
#President [[Jim Thorpe]] (1920–1921)<ref name="research">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = | url = http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=1921b | title = 1921 Once more, with feeling | format = | work = | publisher = Professional Football Researchers Association | accessdate = 2006-10-18}}</ref>
 
−
#President [[Joseph Carr]] (1921–1939)
 
−
#President [[Carl Storck]] (1939–1941)
 
−
#Commissioner [[Elmer Layden]] (1941–1946)
 
−
#Commissioner [[Bert Bell]] (1946–1959)
 
−
#Interim President [[Austin Gunsel]] (1959–1960, following death of Bell)
 
−
#Commissioner [[Pete Rozelle|Alvin "Pete" Rozelle]] (1960–1989)
 
−
#Commissioner [[Paul Tagliabue]] (1989–2006)
 
−
#Commissioner [[Roger Goodell]] (2006–present)''
 
−
 
 
−
==Main league offices==
 
−
*[[Canton, Ohio]] (1920–1921)
 
−
*[[Columbus, Ohio]] (1921–1941)
 
−
*[[Chicago]] (1941–1946)
 
−
*[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] (1946–1960)
 
−
*[[New York City]] (1960–present)
 
  
 
==Uniform numbers==
 
==Uniform numbers==
 
{{main|Squad number}}
 
{{main|Squad number}}
  
−
In the NFL, players wear [[Squad number|uniform numbers]] based on the position they play. The current system was instituted into the league on [[April 5]], [[1973]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/cs/football101/a/bl_numbersystem.htm|title=NFL uniform numbering system|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> as a means for fans and officials (referees, linesmen) to more easily identify players on the field by their position. Players who were already in the league at that date were [[grandfather clause|grandfathered]], and did not have to change their uniform numbers if they did not conform. Since that date, players are invariably assigned numbers within the following ranges, based on their primary position:
+
In the NFL, players wear uniform numbers based on the position they play. The current system was instituted into the league on April 5, 1973,<ref>James Alder, [https://www.thoughtco.com/nfls-uniform-numbering-system-1333785 The NFL's Uniform Numbering System] ''ThoughtCo''. Retrieved February 2, 2018.</ref> as a means for fans and officials (referees, linesmen) to more easily identify players on the field by their position. Players who were already in the league at that date were grandfathered, and did not have to change their uniform numbers if they did not conform. Since that date, players are invariably assigned numbers within the following ranges, based on their primary position:
 
* Quarterbacks, placekickers and punters: 1–19
 
* Quarterbacks, placekickers and punters: 1–19
 
* Wide receivers: 10–19, 80–89
 
* Wide receivers: 10–19, 80–89
Line 519: Line 368:
 
* Tight ends: 80–89, or 40–49 if all are taken
 
* Tight ends: 80–89, or 40–49 if all are taken
  
−
Prior to 2004, wide receivers were allowed to only wear numbers 80–89.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/od/nationalfootballleague/a/04rulechanges.htm|title=2004 NFL Rules changes|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> The NFL changed the rule that year to allow wide receivers to wear numbers 10–19 to allow for the increased number of players at wide receiver and tight end coming into the league. Prior to that, players were only allowed to wear non-standard numbers if their team had run out of numbers within the prescribed number range. Perhaps most familiar to fans, [[Keyshawn Johnson]] began wearing number 19 in 1996 because the [[New York Jets]] had run out of numbers in the 80s.
+
Prior to 2004, wide receivers were allowed to only wear numbers 80–89. The NFL changed the rule that year to allow wide receivers to wear numbers 10–19 to allow for the increased number of players at wide receiver and tight ends coming into the league. Prior to that, players were only allowed to wear non-standard numbers if their team had run out of numbers within the prescribed number range. Perhaps most familiar to fans, [[Keyshawn Johnson]] began wearing number 19 in 1996 because the New York Jets had run out of numbers in the 80s.
  
−
Occasionally, players will petition the NFL to allow them to wear a number that is not in line with the numbering system. [[Brad Van Pelt]], a linebacker who entered the NFL in [[1973 NFL season|1973]] with the [[New York Giants]], wore number 10 during his 11 seasons with the club, despite not being covered by the grandfather clause. In 2006, [[New Orleans Saints]] running back [[Reggie Bush]] petitioned the NFL to let him keep the number 5 which he used at [[University of Southern California|USC]]. His request was later denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2455586|title='''Clayton, John''' "NFL will not change numbering system for Bush", ESPN.com, May 23, 2006|accessdate=2007-01-21}}</ref> Former [[Seattle Seahawks]] standout [[Brian Bosworth]] attempted such a petition in 1987 (to wear his collegiate number of 44 at the [[linebacker]] position), also without success.
+
Occasionally, players will petition the NFL to allow them to wear a number that is not in line with the numbering system. Brad Van Pelt, a linebacker who entered the NFL in the 1973 NFL season with the New York Giants, wore number 10 during his 11 seasons with the club, despite not being covered by the grandfather clause. In 2006, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush petitioned to the NFL to let him keep the number 5 which he used at University of Southern California. His request was later denied. Former [[Seattle Seahawks]] standout Brian Bosworth attempted such a petition in 1987 (to wear his collegiate number of 44 at the linebacker position), also without success.
  
 
It should be noted that this NFL numbering system is based on a player's ''primary'' position. Any player wearing any number may play at any position on the field at any time (though players wearing numbers 50–79 must let the referee know that they are playing out of position by reporting as an "ineligible number in an eligible position"). Normally, only players on offense with eligible numbers are permitted to touch the ball by taking a snap from center, receiving a hand-off or catching a pass. It is not uncommon for running backs to line up at wide receiver on certain plays, or to have a large lineman play at fullback or tight end in short yardage situations. Also, in preseason games, when teams have expanded rosters, players may wear numbers that are outside of the above rules. When the final 53-player roster is established, they are reissued numbers within the above guidelines.
 
It should be noted that this NFL numbering system is based on a player's ''primary'' position. Any player wearing any number may play at any position on the field at any time (though players wearing numbers 50–79 must let the referee know that they are playing out of position by reporting as an "ineligible number in an eligible position"). Normally, only players on offense with eligible numbers are permitted to touch the ball by taking a snap from center, receiving a hand-off or catching a pass. It is not uncommon for running backs to line up at wide receiver on certain plays, or to have a large lineman play at fullback or tight end in short yardage situations. Also, in preseason games, when teams have expanded rosters, players may wear numbers that are outside of the above rules. When the final 53-player roster is established, they are reissued numbers within the above guidelines.
  
 
==Awards==
 
==Awards==
−
*[[Vince Lombardi Trophy]]
+
*Vince Lombardi Trophy
−
*[[AFC Championship Game|Lamar Hunt Trophy]]
+
*AFC Championship Game (Lamar Hunt Trophy)
−
*[[NFC Championship Game|George S. Halas Trophy]]
+
*NFC Championship Game (George S. Halas Trophy)
−
*[[NFL Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]]
+
*NFL Most Valuable Player Award
−
*[[NFL Coach of the Year Award|Coach of the Year]]
+
*NFL Coach of the Year Award
−
*[[NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award|Offensive Player of the Year]]
+
*NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
−
*[[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award|Defensive Player of the Year]]
+
*NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
−
*[[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award|Offensive Rookie of the Year]]
+
*NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
−
*[[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award|Defensive Rookie of the Year]]
+
*NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
−
*[[Super Bowl MVP]]
+
*Super Bowl MVP
−
*[[NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award|NFL Comeback Player of the Year]]
+
*NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
−
*[[Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]]
+
*Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
−
*[[Pro Bowl MVP]]
+
*Pro Bowl MVP
  
−
===Discontinued awards===
+
==Notes==
−
*[[AFL All-Star Game MVP]]
+
<references/>
−
*[[UPI NFL MVP]]
 
−
*[[UPI NFC Player of the Year]]
 
−
*[[UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year]]
 
−
*[[UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year]]
 
−
*[[UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year]]
 
−
 
 
−
==See also==
 
−
*[[National Football League stadiums]]
 
−
*[[Coaching tree]]
 
−
*[[NFL Depth Charts]]
 
−
*[[List of American football players]]
 
−
*[[List of National Football League head coaches|Current NFL coaches]]
 
−
*[[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
 
−
*[[Defunct NFL teams]]
 
−
*[[List of Professional Football Drafts]]
 
−
*[[Personal Seat License]]
 
−
*[[List of sports attendance figures]] — the NFL's attendance in a worldwide context
 
−
*[[Instant replay]]
 
−
*[[Glossary of American football]]
 
−
*[[Madden NFL|Madden NFL series]]
 
−
*[[Major North American professional sports leagues]]
 
−
*[[NFL Films]]
 
−
*[[NFL Network]]
 
−
*[[NFL nicknames]]
 
−
*[[NFL Cheerleading]]
 
−
*[[NFL Street|NFL Street series]]
 
−
*[[NFL Blitz]]
 
−
*[[NFL franchise moves and mergers]]
 
−
*[[NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
 
−
*[[NFL All-Decade Teams]]
 
−
*[[National Football League Lore|NFL Lore]]
 
−
*[[USA Football]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Pre-seasons===
 
−
*[[American Bowl]]
 
−
*[[Pro Football Hall of Fame Game]]
 
−
===Regular seasons===
 
−
*[[List of NFL seasons]]
 
−
*[[List of NFL tied games]] (since 1974)
 
−
*[[National Football League: Last to First]]
 
−
*[[Significant rivalries in the NFL]]
 
−
*[[NFL Kickoff game]]
 
−
*[[Thanksgiving Classic]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Postseasons===
 
−
*[[One Game Playoff]]
 
−
*[[NFL playoffs]]
 
−
*[[AFC Championship Game]]
 
−
*[[NFC Championship Game]]
 
−
*[[Playoff Bowl]] (defunct)
 
−
*[[Super Bowl]]
 
−
*[[Pro Bowl]]
 
−
*[[History of NFL Championships]]
 
−
*[[List of Super Bowl champions]]
 
−
*[[List of NFL champions]]
 
−
*[[Professional American football championship games|Professional Football Championship Games]]
 
−
*[[List of Current NFL franchise post-season droughts]]
 
−
*[[Active NFL playoff appearance streaks]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Records===
 
−
*[[NFL Standings since AFL-NFL merger]]
 
−
*[[NFL opening day standings]]
 
−
*[[NFL records (individual)|NFL Individual Records]]
 
−
*[[NFL Records (Team)|NFL Team-Oriented Records]]
 
−
*[[NFL Annual Rushing Leaders]]
 
−
 
 
−
===Other related leagues===
 
−
====American football====
 
−
*[[American Football League]]
 
−
*[[All-America Football Conference]]
 
−
*[[NFL Europa]]
 
−
*[[XFL]]
 
−
*[[List of leagues of American football]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
{{reflist}}
+
* Editors at the NFL. ''2006 NFL Record and Fact Book''. Sports Illustrated, 2006. ISBN 1933405325
 +
* Editors at the NFL. ''Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League''.  Sports Illustrated, 2006. ISBN 978-1933405322
 +
* Ross, Charles K. ''Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League''. NYU Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0814774953
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
* [http://www.nfl.com Official NFL website]
+
All links retrieved November 11, 2022.
−
* [http://www.nflplayers.com Official NFL players website]
+
* [http://www.nfl.com Official NFL website]  
−
* [http://www.superbowl.com Official Super Bowl website]
+
* [http://www.superbowl.com Official Super Bowl website]  
−
* [http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/history NFL History] - Champion and Award Lists
+
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/index ESPN.com's NFL Section]  
−
* [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=700 Harris Poll on popularity of the NFL and each individual team]
+
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-04-05-nfl-scheduling_x.htm Process of game-time decisions will eliminate TV duds, create chaos] by Michael Hiestand, USA Today, April 5, 2006  
−
* [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/30/06nfl_NFL-Team-Valuations_land.html NFL Franchise Valuations]
+
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com Pro Football Reference] - Historical stats of every team, player and coach in the NFL.
−
* [http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules NFL Digest of Rules]
 
−
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/index ESPN.com's NFL Section]
 
−
* [http://www.nbcsports.com NFL on NBC]
 
−
 
 
−
== Further information ==
 
−
* "NFL Scores Nearly $18 Billion in TV Rights", by Stefan Fatsis and Kyle Pope, [[14 January]] [[1998]], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (p. B1) [http://subscribe.wsj.com/microexamples/articlefiles/NFLScoresNearly18BillionInTVRights.doc]
 
−
* {{cite book | title=2006 NFL Record and Fact Book | publisher=Time Inc. Home Entertainment | id=ISBN 1-933405-32-5}}
 
−
* {{cite book | title=Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League | publisher=[[Harper Collins]] | id=ISBN 1-933405-32-5}}
 
−
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A57668-2005Jan7?language=printer NFL's Economic Model Shows Signs of Strain]
 
−
* [http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=rulesname Professional Football Researchers Association] - detailed descriptions of why many of the rules named after players were enacted.
 
−
* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-04-05-nfl-scheduling_x.htm Process of game-time decisions will eliminate TV duds, create chaos] by Michael Hiestand, [[USA Today]], [[April 5]], [[2006]] (Last accessed [[April 5]], [[2006]])
 
−
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com Pro Football Reference] - Historical stats of every team, player and coach in the NFL.
 
−
* [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/30/06nfl_NFL-Team-Valuations_Revenue.html Five NFL teams worth over $1 billion]
 
−
 
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
 
−
{{NFL}}
 
−
{{NFL seasons}}
 
−
{{Profootball}}
 
  
−
[[category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
+
[[Category:Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]]
 +
[[Category:Sports and leisure]]
 
{{credits|National_Football_League|140816680}}
 
{{credits|National_Football_League|140816680}}

Latest revision as of 14:44, 11 November 2022


National Football League
Sport American football
Founded 1920
CEO Roger Goodell (Commissioner)
No. of teams 32, divided into two sixteen-team conferences, each of which consists of four four-team divisions.
Country Flag of United States United States
Most recent champion(s) New England Patriots
TV partner(s) CBS
Fox
NBC
ESPN
NFL Network
Telemundo
Official website NFL.com

The National Football League (NFL) is the largest and most prestigious professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from United States cities and regions. The league's teams are divided into two conferences: The American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference is then further divided into four divisions consisting of four teams each, labeled North, South, East, and West. During the league's regular season, each team plays sixteen games over a seventeen-week period, generally from September to December. At the end of each regular season, six teams from each conference play in the NFL playoffs, a twelve-team single-elimination tournament that culminates with the NFL championship, the Super Bowl. This game is held at a pre-selected site which is usually a city that hosts an NFL team. One week later, selected all-star players from both the AFC and NFC meet in the Pro Bowl, currently held in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Super Bowl is the most watched event in America every year and Super Bowl weekend has become an almost unofficial national holiday.

The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association and adopted the name National Football League in 1922. The NFL is one of the most popular sports leagues in the United States, and has the highest per-game attendance of any domestic professional sports league in the world, averaging over 67,000 spectators per game.

Locations of teams in the NFL, shown by conference and division.

History

Pre-1900: Walter Camp and the invention of football

The game of American Football was created in 1876 by Walter Camp, often referred to as the father of American Football. As time elapsed, on November 12, 1892, Yale All-America guard William (Pudge) Heffelfinger was paid $500 by the AAA to play in a game against the PAC, becoming the first person to be paid to play football. In 1899, Chris O'Brien formed a neighborhood team, which played under the name the Morgan Athletic Club, on the south side of Chicago. The team later became known as the Normals, then the Racine (for a street in Chicago) Cardinals, the Chicago Cardinals, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phoenix Cardinals, and, in 1994, the Arizona Cardinals. The team remains the oldest continuing operation in pro football.

The road to modern football was a difficult one. There were various attempts at forming the National Football League. The first such one was in 1902, and was somewhat successful. However, due to complete disorganization, players were able to move from one team to another without any restrictions. The highest bidder would earn their services. Not only this, but dramatic rising salaries and the use of players still in college conflicted with many of the goals of the league. This in turn, forced people to think about a league in which all players would be bound to similar restrictions and rules.

1920s American Professional Football Association

The American Professional Football Association was founded in 1920 at a Hupmobile dealership in Canton, Ohio. Legendary athlete Jim Thorpe was elected president. The group of eleven teams, all but one in the Midwest, was originally less a league than an agreement not to rob other teams' players. In the early years, APFA members continued to play non-APFA teams.

In 1921, however, the APFA began releasing official standings, and the following year, the group changed its name to the National Football League. The Chicago Bears of present day also came to existence in 1922. However, the NFL was hardly a major league in the 1920s. Teams entered and left the league frequently. Franchises included such colorful representatives as the Providence Steam Rollers, the Decatur Staleys, and the LaRue, Ohio Oorang Indians, an all-Native Americans in the United States outfit that also put on a performing dog show.

1926 marked the rise and fall of the American Football League. After failing to get star Red Grange a five-figure contract and a third part in ownership, Grange's manager, C.C. Pyle broke away from the National Football League and formed the American Football League (AFL). Unfortunately, this experience fell apart as the AFL folded at season's end. In 1926, a rule was passed that prohibited college students from signing whose class had not yet graduated.

It seemed as though football would remain an experiment, a dream in the making forever. Yet as former college stars like Red Grange and Benny Friedman began to test the professional waters, the pro game slowly began to increase in its popularity. One factor in the league's rising popularity was the institution of an annual National Football League championships in 1933, and the forming of two divisions to create structure in the National Football League.

1930s: Green Bay dominance, disappearance of African-American players, and the birth of the bowl

The Packers won an unprecedented third consecutive title, beating out the Spartans, who were led by rookie backs Earl (Dutch) Clark and Glenn Presnell.

Up till now, there had been no real racial barriers. However, in 1933, black players disappeared from the NFL. Not surprisingly enough, this occurred just after the acceptance of Boston Braves owner George Preston Marshall, who effectively dissuaded other NFL owners from employing black players until the mid-forties. In fact, he kept blacks off his team (which eventually became the Washington Redskins) until he was forced to integrate by the Kennedy administration in 1962.[1]

1939 marked the existence of the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is a game to honor the league's All-Star players who have performed at the highest level. Initially, it was a game featuring the championships team against a group of the league's best individual players. The first Pro Bowl game took place at Wrigley Field, Los Angeles, on January 15, 1939. The title winners, New York Giants, defeated the Pro Bowl All-Stars 13-10.

In the same year, an NFL game was televised for the first time when NBC broadcast the Brooklyn Dodgers-Philadelphia Eagles game from Ebbets Field to the approximately 1,000 sets then in New York.

Green Bay defeated New York 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game, December 10 at Milwaukee. NFL attendance exceeded 1 million in a season for the first time, reaching 1,071,200.

1940s: In the midst of war

The beginning of the decade saw Elmer Layden appointed as the first commissioner of the NFL on March 1, 1940; Storck, the acting president, resigned, April 5, 1940. The NFL headquarters were also moved to Chicago during the year.

The contract of Commissioner Layden was not renewed, and Bert Bell, the co-owner of the Steelers, replaced him on January 11, 1946. Bell moved the league headquarters again: from Chicago to the Philadelphia suburb of Bala-Cynwyd.

The racial barrier for African-Americans was broken when halfback Kenny Washington (March 21, 1946) and end Woody Strode (May 7, 1946) signed with the Los Angeles Rams to become the first African-Americans to play in the NFL in the modern era. Guard Bill Willis (August 6, 1946) and running back Marion Motley (August 9, 1946) joined the AAFC with the Cleveland Browns.

By the end of World War II, pro football began to rival the college game for fans' attention. The spread of the T formation led to a faster-paced, higher-scoring game that attracted record numbers of fans. In 1945, the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, California, becoming the first big-league sports franchise on the West Coast. In 1950, the NFL accepted three teams from the defunct All-America Football Conference, expanding to thirteen clubs.

1950s: NFL rising in popularity

In the 1950s, pro football finally earned its place as a major sport. Slowly, but surely, the sport was rising in popularity. The NFL embraced television, giving Americans nationwide a chance to follow stars like Bobby Layne, Paul Hornung, Otto Graham, and Johnny Unitas. The 1958 NFL championship was played in Yankee Stadium and drew record TV viewership, making national celebrities out of Unitas and his Baltimore Colts teammates as Don Ameche scored the winning touchdown in overtime in one of the more exciting championship games ever played. It came at precisely the right moment to spur greater fan interest. That same year, the league changed its name from National Football League to National-American Football League. This change, however, lasted only three months before it reverted back to the original National Football League (NFL).

In addition, the Pro Bowl game that had been dormant since 1942 was revived under a new format. It matched the all-stars of each conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The American Conference defeated the National Conference 28-27, January 14, 1951.

The sudden-death overtime rule was used for the first time in a pre-season game between the Rams and Giants at Portland, Oregon, August 28, 1955. The Rams won 23-17 three minutes into overtime.

The 1956 was a season of changes. It marked the founding of the National Football League (NFL) Players Association. CBS became the first network to broadcast some NFL regular-season games to selected television markets across the nation.

The decade closed with the creation of a rival league on August 22, 1959. For the fourth time, the American Football League was created to rival the National Football League by Lamar Hunt.

1960s, AFL-NFL merger and the Super Bowl

The AFL adopted the two-point option on points after touchdowns on January 28, 1960. A no-tampering verbal pact, relative to players' contracts, was agreed to between the NFL and AFL, February 9, 1960. The NFL owners voted to allow the transfer of the Chicago Cardinals to St. Louis, March 13, 1960.

Later, the AFL signed a five-year television contract with ABC, June 9, 1960. The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 28-7 before 16,000 at Buffalo in the first AFL preseason game, July 30, 1960. The Denver Broncos defeated the Patriots 13-10 before 21,597 at Boston in the first AFL regular-season game, September 9 of the same year.

In 1961, the Houston Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 before 32,183 in the first AFL Championship Game, January 1. Detroit defeated Cleveland 17-16 in the first Playoff Bowl, or Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, between second-place teams in each conference in Miami, January 7, 1961.

The Western Division defeated the Eastern Division 47-27 in the first AFL All-Star Game, played before 20,973 in San Diego, January 7, 1962.

The rise of professional football was so fast that by the mid-1960s, it had surpassed baseball as Americans' favorite spectator sport in some surveys. When the NFL turned down Lamar Hunt's request to purchase either an existing or expansion NFL franchise, he formed the rival American Football League (AFL), in 1960. He encouraged, wheedled, and cajoled seven other like-minded men to form this new league. The group of the eight founders of the AFL teams was referred to as the "Foolish Club." One of them, fellow Texan Bud Adams of Houston, Texas, had likewise tried but failed to be granted an NFL franchise. Hunt's goal was to bring professional football to Texas and to acquire an NFL team for the Hunt family.

The AFL introduced features that the NFL did not have, such as wider-open passing offenses, players' names on their jerseys, and an official clock visible to fans so that they knew the time remaining in a period (the NFL kept time by a game referee's watch, and only periodically announced the actual time). The newer league also secured itself financially after it established the precedents for gate and television revenue sharing between all of its teams, and network television broadcasts of all of its games. While the NFL virtually ignored small and historically black colleges as a source of player talent, the AFL actively recruited from such schools and AFL teams installed blacks at positions from which they were tacitly excluded in the NFL, such as quarterback and middle linebacker.

The AFL also forced the NFL to expand: The Dallas Cowboys were created to counter Hunt's AFL Dallas Texans (AFL) franchise. The Texans moved the franchise to Kansas City as the Chiefs in 1963; the Minnesota Vikings were the NFL franchise given to Max Winter for abandoning the AFL; and the Atlanta Falcons franchise went to Rankin Smith to dissuade him from purchasing the AFL's Miami Dolphins.

The ensuing costly war for players between the NFL and AFL almost derailed the sport's ascent. By 1966, the leagues agreed to AFL-NFL Merger as of the 1970 season. The ten AFL teams joined three existing NFL teams to form the NFL's American Football Conference. The remaining thirteen NFL teams became the National Football Conference. Another result of the merger was the creation of an AFL-NFL Championship game that for four years determined the so-called "World Championship of Professional Football." After the merger, the then-renamed Super Bowl became the NFL's championship game.

Green Bay earned the right to represent the NFL in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game by defeating Dallas 34-27, January 1, 1967. The same day, Kansas City defeated Buffalo 31-7 to represent the AFL. The Packers defeated the Chiefs 35-10 before 61,946 fans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the first game between AFL and NFL teams, January 15, 1967. The winning players' share for the Packers was $15,000 each, and the losing players' share for the Chiefs was $7,500 each. The game was televised by both CBS and NBC. In fact, this game was later known as the first "Super Bowl," or Super Bowl I.

The "sling-shot" goal post and a six-foot-wide border around the field were made standard in the NFL, February 22, 1967.

The AFL established a playoff format for the 1969 season, with the winner in one division playing the runner-up in the other, January 11, 1969. An AFL team won the Super Bowl for the first time, as the Jets defeated the Colts 16-7 at Miami, January 12, 1969 in Super Bowl III. The title Super Bowl was recognized by the NFL for the first time.

1970s and 1980s, growing popularity

Kansas City defeated Minnesota 23-7 in Super Bowl IV at New Orleans, January 11, 1970. The gross receipts of approximately $3.8 million were the largest ever for a one-day sports event.

Four-year television contracts, under which CBS would televise all NFC games and NBC all AFC games (except Monday night games) and the two would divide televising the Super Bowl and AFC-NFC Pro Bowl games, were announced, January 26, 1970.

Art Modell resigned as president of the NFL, March 12, 1970. Milt Woodard resigned as president of the AFL, March 13, 1970. Lamar Hunt was elected president of the AFC and George Halas was elected president of the NFC, March 19, 1970.

The Super Bowl trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi trophy on September 10, 1970, as a tribute to the man who changed the face of professional football. Lombardi passed away after losing his fight with cancer.

Baltimore defeated Dallas 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's 32-yard field goal with five seconds to go in Super Bowl V at Miami, January 17, 1971. The NBC telecast was viewed in an estimated 23,980,000 homes, the largest audience ever for a one-day sports event.

Pittsburgh defeated Dallas 21-17 in Super Bowl X (1976) in Miami. The Steelers joined Green Bay and Miami as the only teams to win two Super Bowls; the Cowboys became the first wild-card team to play in the Super Bowl. The CBS telecast was viewed by an estimated 80 million people, the largest television audience in history. The 1970s would be dominated by the Steelers, who would win four Super Bowls.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the NFL solidified its dominance as America's top spectator sport and its important role in American culture. The Super Bowl became an unofficial national holiday and the top-rated TV program most years. Monday Night Football, which first aired in 1970 brought in high ratings by mixing sports and entertainment. Rules changes in the late 1970s ensured a fast-paced game with lots of passing to attract the casual fan.

The founding of the United States Football League in the early 1980s was the biggest challenge to the NFL in the post-merger era. The USFL was a well-financed competitor with big-name players and a national television contract. However, the USFL failed to make money and folded after three years.

In recent years, the NFL has expanded into new markets and ventures. In 1986, the league began holding a series of pre-season exhibition games, called American Bowls, held at international sites outside the United States. Then in 1991, the league formed the World League of American Football, (the recently defunct NFL Europa), a developmental league with teams in Germany and the Netherlands.

Although no team is based in a foreign country, NFL teams now play a number of games in other countries. For example, Mexico hosted an NFL regular-season game, a 2005 game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals known as "Fútbol Americano", and 39 international preseason games were played from 1986 to 2005 as part of the American Bowl series. The Jacksonville Jaguars began playing one home game a year at Wembley Stadium in London, England in 2013 as part of the NFL International Series. The Buffalo Bills played one home game every season at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as part of the Bills Toronto Series from 2008 to 2013.

Franchise relocations and mergers

In the early years, the league was not stable and teams moved frequently. Franchise mergers were popular during World War II in response to the scarcity of players.

Franchise moves became far more controversial in the late 20th century when a vastly more popular NFL, free from financial instability, allowed many franchises to abandon long-held strongholds for perceived financially greener pastures. While owners invariably cited financial difficulties as the primary factor in such moves, many fans bitterly disputed these contentions, especially in Cleveland (the Rams and the Browns), Baltimore (the Colts), Houston (the Oilers) and St. Louis (the Cardinals), each of which eventually received teams some years after their original franchises left (the Browns, Ravens, Texans and the Rams respectively). However, Los Angeles, the second-largest media market in the United States, has not had an NFL team since 1994 after both the Raiders and the Rams relocated elsewhere.

Season structure

As of 2006, The NFL season features:

  • A 4-game National Football League exhibition season (or preseason) running from early August to early September
  • A 16-game, 17-week regular season running from September to December or early January
  • A team does not win a championship or any trophy for having the best record during the regular season, but the league does recognize a champion for each of the 8 divisions.
  • A 12-team NFL Playoffs beginning in January culminating in the Super Bowl in early February.
  • The winner of the Super Bowl is the NFL Champion.

Playoffs

The NFL Playoffs. Each of the 4 division winners is seeded 1–4 based on their W-L-T records. The two Wild Card teams (labeled Wild Card 1 and 2) are seeded 5th and 6th (with the better of the two having seed 5) regardless of their records compared to the 4 division winners.

The season concludes with a 12-team tournament used to determine the teams to play in the Super Bowl. The brackets are made up of six teams from each of the league's two conferences, the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC), following the end of the 16-game regular season:

  • The four division champions from each conference (the team in each division with the best regular season won-lost-tied record), which are seeded 1 through 4 based on their regular season won-lost-tied record.
  • Two Wild card qualifiers from each conference (those non-division champions with the conference's best won-lost-tied percentages), which are seeded 5 and 6.

The 3 and the 6 seeded teams, and the 4 and the 5 seeds, face each other during the first round of the playoffs, dubbed the Wild Card Playoffs (the league in recent years has also used the term Wild Card Weekend). The 1 and the 2 seeds from each conference receive a bye in the first round, which entitles these teams to automatically advance to the second round, the Divisional Playoff games, to face the Wild Card survivors. In any given playoff round, the highest surviving seed always plays the lowest surviving seed. And in any given playoff game, whoever has the higher seed gets the home field advantage.

The two surviving teams from the Divisional Playoff games meet in Conference Championship games, with the winners of those contests going on to face one another in the Super Bowl.

Media

Television

The television rights to the NFL are the most lucrative and expensive rights not only of any American sport, but of any American entertainment property. With the fragmentation of audiences due to the increased specialization of broadcast and cable TV networks, sports remain one of the few entertainment properties that not only can guarantee a large and diversified audience, but an audience that will watch in real time.

Annually, the Super Bowl often ranks among the most watched shows of the year.

Under the current television contracts, which began during the 2006 season, regular season games are broadcast on five networks: CBS, Fox Broadcasting Company, NBC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. Regionally shown games are broadcast on Sundays on CBS and FOX, carrying the AFC and NFC teams respectively (the traveling team deciding the broadcast station in the event of inter-Conference games). These games generally air at 1:00 p.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. ET. Nationally televised games include NBC Sunday Night Football, ESPN Monday Night Football, the Thursday night NFL Kickoff Game, the annual Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day games, and, as of 2006, select Thursday and Saturday games on the NFL network, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Football League.[2]

Additionally, satellite broadcast company DirecTV offers NFL Sunday Ticket, a subscription based package, that allows most Sunday daytime regional games to be watched. This package is exclusive to DirecTV in the U.S. In Canada, NFL Sunday Ticket is available on a per-provider distribution deal on both cable and satellite.

Radio

Each NFL team has its own radio network and employs its announcers. Nationally, the NFL is heard on the Westwood One Radio Network, Sports USA Radio Network and in Spanish on Univision Radio and the United Stations Radio Network. Westwood One carries Sunday and Monday Night Football, all Thursday games, two Sunday afternoon contests and all post-season games, including the Pro Bowl. Sports USA Radio broadcasts two Sunday afternoon games every Sunday during the regular season.[2]

The NFL also has a contract with Sirius Satellite Radio, which provides news, analysis, commentary and game coverage for all games, as well as comprehensive coverage of the draft and off-season on its own channel, Sirius NFL Radio.[2]

Internet radio broadcasts of all NFL games are managed through FieldPass, a subscription service. Radio stations are, by rule, prohibited from streaming the games for free from their Web sites; however, there are numerous stations that break this rule. The NFL on Westwood One and the NFL on Sports USA Radio are not available on FieldPass.

The NFL Draft

Every year during April, each NFL franchise seeks to add new players to its roster through a collegiate draft known as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting," which is more commonly known as the NFL Draft.

Teams are ranked in inverse order based on the previous season's record, with the worst record picking first, and the second worst picking second and so on. The two exceptions to this order are made for teams that appeared in the previous Super Bowl; the Super Bowl champion always picks 32nd, and the Super Bowl loser always picks 31st.[3]

The draft proceeds for 7 rounds. Rounds 1–3 are run on Saturday of draft weekend, rounds 4–7 are run on Sunday. Teams are given a limited amount of time to make their picks.[4] If the pick is not made in the allotted time, subsequent teams in the draft may draft before them.

Teams have the option of trading away their picks to other teams for different picks, players, cash, or a combination thereof. While player-for-player trades are rare during the rest of the year (especially in comparison to the other major league sports), trades are far more common on draft day.

The first pick in the draft is often taken to be the best overall player in the rookie class. This may or may not be true, since teams sometimes select players based more on needs, or signability than on overall skill. Still, it is considered a great honor to be a first-round pick, and a greater honor to be the first overall pick. The very last pick in the draft is known as Mr. Irrelevant, and is the subject of a dinner in his honor in Newport Beach, California.

Drafted players may only negotiate with the team that drafted them (or to another team if their rights were traded away). The drafting team has one year to sign the player. If they do not do so, the player may reenter the draft and can be drafted by another team.

Steroid policy

The NFL steroid policy has been acclaimed by some and criticized by others, but the policy is the longest running in professional sports, beginning in 1987. The current steroid policy of the NFL suspends players without pay who test positive for banned substances as it has since 1989: Four games for the first offense (a fourth of the regular season), eight games for a second offense (half of the regular season), and 12 months for a third offense. The suspended games may be either regular season games or playoff games.

In comparison to the steroid policies of Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the NFL has long been the most strict. While recently MLB and the NHL decided to permanently ban athletes for a third offense, they have long been resistant to such measures, and random testing is in its infancy.

Since the NFL started random, year-round tests and suspending players for performance enhancing drugs it has caught many more players using drugs. By April 2005, 111 NFL players had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and of those 111, the NFL suspended 54. Only two NFL players have ever tested positive more than once, and they both retired.

Teams

Current NFL teams

There are 32 NFL teams. Each club is allowed a maximum of 55 players, though nearly every team keeps only 53 on their final roster in case of injury, during the regular season. Unlike Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League, the league has no teams in Canada largely because of the historical existence of the Canadian Football League.

Most major metropolitan areas in the United States have an NFL franchise; the notable exception is the Los Angeles area, from which both the Raiders and Rams relocated following the 1994 season. The NFL is able to utilize the possible relocation of a franchise to Los Angeles as leverage, for example when trying to persuade local governments to contribute to the cost of new stadiums for its other franchises.[5]

Since the 2002 season, the teams have been aligned as follows:

American Football Conference

American Football Conference
Division Team Stadium City/Area
AFC East Buffalo Bills 1 New Era Field Orchard Park (town), New York
Miami Dolphins 7 Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida
New England Patriots 2 Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts
New York Jets 3 MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey
AFC North|North Baltimore Ravens M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore, Maryland
Cincinnati Bengals 8 Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland Browns FirstEnergy Stadium Cleveland, Ohio
Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
AFC South Houston Texans NRG Stadium Houston, Texas
Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana
Jacksonville Jaguars EverBank Field Jacksonville, Florida
Tennessee Titans 4 Nissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee
AFC West Denver Broncos 1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Denver, Colorado
Kansas City Chiefs 5 Arrowhead Stadium Kansas City, Missouri
Los Angeles Chargers 6 StubHub Center Carson, California
Oakland Raiders 1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Oakland, California
  • 1 Original American Football League (AFL) franchise
  • 2 Original American Football League, as the Boston Patriots
  • 3 Original American Football League, as the New York Titans
  • 4 Original American Football League, as the Houston Oilers
  • 5 Original American Football League, as the Kansas City Chiefs|Dallas Texans
  • 6 Original American Football League, as the Los Angeles Chargers
  • 7 American Football League expansion franchise (1966)
  • 8 American Football League expansion franchise (1968)

National Football Conference

National Football Conference
Division Team Stadium City/Area
NFC East Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas
New York Giants MetLife Stadium East Rutherfeild, New Jersey
Philadelphia Eagles Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Washington Redskins FedEx Field Landover, Maryland
NFC North Chicago Bears Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois
Detroit Lions Ford Field Detroit, Michigan
Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field Green Bay, Wisconsin
Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota
NFC South Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, Georgia
Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina
New Orleans Saints Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida
NFC West Arizona Cardinals University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona
Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, California
San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, California
Seattle Seahawks CenturyLink Field Seattle, Washington

Video games

Electronic Arts publishes an NFL video game for current video game consoles and for PCs each year, called Madden NFL, being named after former coach and current football commentator John Madden, who commentates the game along with Al Michaels. Prior to the 2005–2006 football season, other NFL games were produced by competing video game publishers, such as 2K Games and Midway Games. However, in December 2004, Electronic Arts signed a five-year exclusive agreement with the NFL, meaning only Electronic Arts will be permitted to publish games featuring NFL team and player names. This prompted video game developer Midway Games to release a game in 2005 called Blitz: The League, with fictitious teams such as the "Washington Redhawks," and make references to NFL players such as the Washington Redhawks' left-handed QB "Ron Mexico," alluding to Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, who allegedly used the alias at a walk-in clinic. In August 2006, Madden 07 was released with Seattle running back Shaun Alexander on the cover. In August 2007, Madden NFL 08 will be released with Vince Young on the cover.

Uniform numbers

In the NFL, players wear uniform numbers based on the position they play. The current system was instituted into the league on April 5, 1973,[6] as a means for fans and officials (referees, linesmen) to more easily identify players on the field by their position. Players who were already in the league at that date were grandfathered, and did not have to change their uniform numbers if they did not conform. Since that date, players are invariably assigned numbers within the following ranges, based on their primary position:

  • Quarterbacks, placekickers and punters: 1–19
  • Wide receivers: 10–19, 80–89
  • Running backs and defensive backs: 20–49
  • Offensive linemen: 50–79
  • Linebackers: 50–59 and 90–99
  • Defensive linemen: 50–79 and 90–99
  • Tight ends: 80–89, or 40–49 if all are taken

Prior to 2004, wide receivers were allowed to only wear numbers 80–89. The NFL changed the rule that year to allow wide receivers to wear numbers 10–19 to allow for the increased number of players at wide receiver and tight ends coming into the league. Prior to that, players were only allowed to wear non-standard numbers if their team had run out of numbers within the prescribed number range. Perhaps most familiar to fans, Keyshawn Johnson began wearing number 19 in 1996 because the New York Jets had run out of numbers in the 80s.

Occasionally, players will petition the NFL to allow them to wear a number that is not in line with the numbering system. Brad Van Pelt, a linebacker who entered the NFL in the 1973 NFL season with the New York Giants, wore number 10 during his 11 seasons with the club, despite not being covered by the grandfather clause. In 2006, New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush petitioned to the NFL to let him keep the number 5 which he used at University of Southern California. His request was later denied. Former Seattle Seahawks standout Brian Bosworth attempted such a petition in 1987 (to wear his collegiate number of 44 at the linebacker position), also without success.

It should be noted that this NFL numbering system is based on a player's primary position. Any player wearing any number may play at any position on the field at any time (though players wearing numbers 50–79 must let the referee know that they are playing out of position by reporting as an "ineligible number in an eligible position"). Normally, only players on offense with eligible numbers are permitted to touch the ball by taking a snap from center, receiving a hand-off or catching a pass. It is not uncommon for running backs to line up at wide receiver on certain plays, or to have a large lineman play at fullback or tight end in short yardage situations. Also, in preseason games, when teams have expanded rosters, players may wear numbers that are outside of the above rules. When the final 53-player roster is established, they are reissued numbers within the above guidelines.

Awards

  • Vince Lombardi Trophy
  • AFC Championship Game (Lamar Hunt Trophy)
  • NFC Championship Game (George S. Halas Trophy)
  • NFL Most Valuable Player Award
  • NFL Coach of the Year Award
  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
  • NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
  • NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
  • Super Bowl MVP
  • NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award
  • Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
  • Pro Bowl MVP

Notes

  1. ↑ Charles K. Ross, Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League (NYU Press, 2000, ISBN 978-0814774953).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 NFL, NFL TV and Radio Broadcast Partner Schedule. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  3. ↑ James Alder, How the NFL Determines the Order Teams Select in For the Draft ThoughtCo. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ Tim McDonald, Find Out What the Time Limits for Each Round of the NFL Draft Is ThoughtCo. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ In a league of its own. The Economist, April 27, 2006. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  6. ↑ James Alder, The NFL's Uniform Numbering System ThoughtCo. Retrieved February 2, 2018.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Editors at the NFL. 2006 NFL Record and Fact Book. Sports Illustrated, 2006. ISBN 1933405325
  • Editors at the NFL. Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. Sports Illustrated, 2006. ISBN 978-1933405322
  • Ross, Charles K. Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League. NYU Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0814774953

External links

All links retrieved November 11, 2022.

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