National Football League facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Football League

Formerly	American Professional Football Conference (1920) American Professional Football Association (1920–1921)
Sport	American football
Founded	September 17, 1920 (104 years ago) (1920-09-17) Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Inaugural season	1920
Commissioner	Roger Goodell
No. of teams	32
Country	United States
Headquarters	345 Park Avenue (New York City)
Most recent champion(s)	Philadelphia Eagles (5th title)
Most titles	Green Bay Packers (13 titles)
TV partner(s)	United States: CBS Fox NBC ESPN (ABC, ESPN2) NFL Network Telemundo Deportes ESPN Deportes International: See list
Streaming partner(s)	United States: Paramount+ Peacock ESPN+ Amazon Netflix International: DAZN

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league. It has 32 teams. These teams are split evenly into two groups: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the biggest sports leagues in the United States and Canada. It is also the top level of American football in the world.

Each NFL season starts in August with a three-week preseason. Then comes the regular season, which lasts 18 weeks. It runs from early September to early January. Each team plays 17 games and has one week off, called a bye week. After the regular season, 14 teams go to the playoffs. Seven teams from each conference qualify. This includes the four division winners and three wild card teams. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament. This means if you lose, you're out! The playoffs end with the Super Bowl in early February. This big game is played between the winners of the AFC and NFC championship games. The NFL's main office is in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.

The NFL began in 1920. It was first called the American Professional Football Association (APFA). It changed its name to the National Football League for the 1922 season. At first, the champion was just the team with the best record. But in 1933, they started a playoff system. This led to the NFL Championship Game. In 1966, the NFL agreed to merge with another league, the American Football League (AFL). The Super Bowl was first played in 1967. It decided the champion between the best teams from both leagues. Since the merger finished in 1970, the Super Bowl has been the final game of every NFL season.

The NFL is the richest professional sports league in the world. It also has the most valuable teams. More fans attend NFL games than any other professional sports league. The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched sports events globally. Many Super Bowls are among the most-watched TV shows in American history.

The Green Bay Packers have won the most NFL championships, with thirteen titles. They won nine before the Super Bowl era and four Super Bowls. Since the Super Bowl started, the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls each. The current champions are the Philadelphia Eagles.

How the NFL Started

The NFL has a long and interesting history. It grew from smaller football groups.

Early Days and Founding

On August 20, 1920, a group of football team representatives met in Canton, Ohio. Teams like the Akron Pros and Canton Bulldogs were there. They formed the American Professional Football Conference (APFC). Their goal was to make professional football better. They wanted to stop teams from fighting over players. They also wanted to work together on game schedules.

A second meeting happened on September 17, 1920. Teams from four states attended. These included teams from Ohio, Indiana, New York, and Illinois. At this meeting, the league changed its name. It became the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Jim Thorpe, a famous athlete, was chosen as its first president. The league started with 14 teams. Only two of these original teams are still in the NFL today. They are the Chicago Bears (originally the Decatur Staleys) and the Arizona Cardinals (originally the Racine Cardinals).

The Akron Pros won the first APFA (NFL) Championship in 1920.

The APFA did not keep official standings for its first season in 1920. Teams played games against both league and non-league opponents. But the Akron Pros were named champions. They had a record of 8 wins, 0 losses, and 3 ties. The first league game was on September 26, 1920. The Rock Island Independents won 48–0. The first full week of league games was on October 3, 1920.

In the next season, the Chicago Staleys won the title. On June 24, 1922, the APFA officially changed its name. It became the National Football League (NFL).

Growing the League

In 1932, the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans tied for first place. Back then, the champion was the team with the best winning percentage. There was no clear rule for ties. So, the league decided to have a special playoff game. This game was played indoors in Chicago due to bad weather. The Bears won 9–0 and became champions. Fans loved this championship game.

Because of this excitement, the NFL changed its rules in 1933. It split into two groups, called divisions. The winners of each division would play in a championship game. From 1934 to 1946, African American players were not allowed in the league. This ban ended in 1946.

The NFL was always the biggest professional football league. But it faced other leagues over the years. These included different American Football Leagues and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Some NFL teams today, like the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns, and San Francisco 49ers, came from these older leagues. By the 1950s, the NFL was the main professional football league in the U.S.

NFL and AFL Merger

In 1960, a new league started, the fourth American Football League (AFL). The AFL quickly became popular. It got good TV deals and competed with the NFL for players. On June 8, 1966, the two leagues announced they would merge. The full merger happened in 1970. Before the merger, they held a common draft and a championship game. This game was the Super Bowl. The NFL won the first two Super Bowls. The AFL won the next two.

After the merger, the NFL was reorganized. It created two conferences: the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). Most of the old NFL teams went to the NFC. All the AFL teams, plus three old NFL teams, went to the AFC.

Today, the NFL is the most popular sports league in North America. Much of its growth happened under former commissioner Pete Rozelle. He led the league from 1960 to 1989. During his time, attendance at games grew a lot. Millions of people worldwide watched the Super Bowl. The NFL also started NFL Properties, which handles licensing and earns billions of dollars. They also created NFL Charities.

The current commissioner is Roger Goodell. He started in 2006. He has focused on making the sport safer. This includes reducing dangerous hits and preventing concussions. The league also works to increase opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. In 2024, a jury found the NFL had broken antitrust laws regarding its Sunday Ticket package. The league plans to appeal this decision.

Season and Playoff Changes

The NFL season has changed over the years. It has grown from a few games to many.

Regular Season Length

From 1920 to 1934, teams did not play a set number of games. The league only set a minimum. In 1935, a 12-game regular season became mandatory. This was shortened to 11 games in 1937 and 10 games in 1943 due to World War II. After the war, it went back to 11 games in 1946, then 12 in 1947.

The NFL moved to a 14-game schedule in 1961. This lasted until 1978, when it became 16 games. In March 2021, the NFL officially adopted a 17-game schedule. This was agreed upon with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).

With 17 games, some teams have nine home games and others have eight. To make it fair, the extra home game rotates between the two conferences each year. This way, all teams in a conference play the same number of home games.

Playoff System Evolution

From 1933 to 1966, the NFL used a two-conference system. The champions of each conference played in the NFL Championship Game. If two teams tied for the conference lead, they played a one-game playoff.

In 1967, the NFL added a new team. It also reorganized its conferences into divisions. The four division champions then played in a two-round playoff.

After the AFL teams joined the NFL in 1970, the league had 26 teams. It split into two conferences, each with three divisions. The playoffs expanded to eight teams. This included the three division champions from each conference. It also included one "wild card" team from each conference. A wild card team is the best team that didn't win its division.

In 1978, a second wild card team was added from each conference. This brought the total to ten playoff teams. In 1990, two more wild card teams were added, making it twelve. When the NFL grew to 32 teams in 2002, the divisions changed. There were now four divisions in each conference. This meant the number of wild card teams dropped to two per conference. The playoffs expanded again in 2020. Two more wild card teams were added, making a total of 14 playoff teams.

NFL Teams

The NFL has 32 teams. They are divided into two conferences. Each conference has 16 teams. Each conference is then divided into four divisions, with four teams in each division. On game days, teams can have up to 55 players on their roster. Only 48 of these players can be active and play in the game. Teams also have a 16-player practice squad.

Each NFL team has a special right called a franchise. This allows them to operate in their home city. It covers their "Home Territory" (the area around the city) and "Home Marketing Area" (the state they play in). Each team has the exclusive right to host games and advertise in these areas. There are some exceptions for teams in the same city or state.

The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable NFL team. They are also the most valuable sports team in the world. Many NFL teams are among the top 50 most valuable sports teams globally. The average NFL team is worth billions of dollars.

How the NFL Works

The NFL is set up like a business. It's made up of its 32 teams.

League Leadership

Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner since 2006 (pictured in 2012)

The league has a commissioner, a secretary, and a treasurer. Each conference also has a president. The commissioner is chosen by the teams. They have a lot of power to solve problems between teams, players, and coaches. The commissioner can hire staff, make TV deals, and punish teams or people who break rules. For example, they can fine players or even ban them from the league for serious misconduct.

The current Commissioner of the NFL is Roger Goodell. He was chosen in 2006. He works to make sure the league runs smoothly and fairly.

Season Structure

The NFL season has three main parts. These are the preseason, the regular season, and the playoffs.

Preseason Games

The NFL preseason starts with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. This game is played in Canton, Ohio. Each NFL team plays three preseason games. These games are like practice matches. They don't count for the regular season standings. Coaches use them to see how their teams are doing. Players use them to show their skills. Some fans don't like paying full price for these games. But many players and coaches think they are important.

Regular Season Schedule

The NFL regular season lasts 18 weeks. It starts the week after Labor Day. It ends the week after New Year's Day. The first game of the season is usually on a Thursday. The defending Super Bowl champion plays at home.

Most NFL games are played on Sundays. There is usually a Monday night game each week. Thursday night games also happen most weeks. NFL games are rarely played on Fridays or Saturdays until late in the season. This is because a federal law stops professional football from competing with college or high school football.

The NFL uses a special formula to decide who plays whom. Each team plays 17 games. They play two games against the other three teams in their division. They also play one game against every team in a division from the NFC and a division from the AFC. These divisions rotate each year. Two other games are against teams in their own conference. These are based on how teams finished last year. For example, a first-place team plays other first-place teams. The final game is against a team from the other conference.

The exact dates and times for games are set later. This is because the league has to avoid conflicts. For example, they avoid playing games when there are major baseball playoffs. The NFL creates many possible schedules. They pick the best one to make sure everything works well.

Postseason and Super Bowl

After the regular season, the NFL Playoffs begin. This is a 14-team tournament. Seven teams from each conference make it. These include the four division winners and three wild card teams. Teams are ranked by their record. The top team in each conference gets a week off. The other six teams play in the Wild Card round.

The winners move on to the Divisional Round. Then come the Conference Championships. The winners of these games play in the Super Bowl. This is the league's championship game.

The only other big postseason event is the Pro Bowl. This is the league's all-star game. It's played the week before the Super Bowl. Players from Super Bowl teams don't play in the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl is not as competitive as regular games. Players try to avoid injuries.

Trophies and Awards

The NFL gives out many trophies and awards. These honor teams, players, and coaches.

Team Trophies

The NFL has used three different trophies for its champion. The first was the Brunswick-Balke Collender Cup. It was given to the Akron Pros in 1920. This trophy is now lost.

The second trophy was the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. It was used from 1934 to 1967. Each champion got a smaller copy of this trophy. The main trophy is now believed to be with the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

The current trophy is the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It was renamed in 1970 after coach Vince Lombardi. He led the Green Bay Packers to win the first two Super Bowls. A new Lombardi Trophy is made for each year's champion. They get to keep it forever. These trophies are made of silver and are very valuable.

Winning teams also get Super Bowl rings. These rings are special and unique each year. They are made for all players, coaches, and staff. The losing team also gets rings, but they are less valuable.

The winners of the conference championships also get trophies. The NFC champion gets the George Halas Trophy. It's named after George Halas, a founder of the Chicago Bears and the NFL. The AFC champion gets the Lamar Hunt Trophy. It's named after Lamar Hunt, who founded the Kansas City Chiefs and the AFL. Players on these teams also get conference championship rings.

Player and Coach Awards

The NFL gives out many awards to players and coaches. These are presented at the annual NFL Honors event. The most important award is the AP Most Valuable Player (MVP). Other big awards include:

• AP Offensive Player of the Year
• AP Defensive Player of the Year
• AP Comeback Player of the Year
• AP Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is also very important. It honors a player's work off the field, like helping their community. The NFL Coach of the Year award is for the best coach. The NFL also gives out weekly awards during the season.

How to Watch NFL Games

The NFL is shown on many TV networks and streaming services.

TV and Streaming in the U.S.

In the United States, you can watch the NFL on eight networks. These include ESPN/ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Prime Video, Netflix, and NFL Network. The NFL sells its game rights in different packages. For example, CBS shows afternoon games from the AFC. Fox shows afternoon games from the NFC. These games are shown regionally, meaning different games in different areas.

Since 2011, the NFL can change which network shows a Sunday game. This is called "flexible scheduling." If you want to watch any game, you can buy NFL Sunday Ticket. This service lets you watch games that aren't shown in your local area. It's available through YouTube TV. The NFL also has NFL RedZone. This channel shows all the exciting plays from every game as they happen.

Some games are shown nationwide in prime time. NBC broadcasts Sunday Night Football. This includes the first game of the season and a Thanksgiving Day game. ESPN is the main broadcaster for Monday Night Football. ABC also shows some of these games. Amazon Prime Video is the only place to watch Thursday Night Football. NFL Network, which the league owns, also shows some games.

The NFL has expanded to streaming services. Amazon has exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football. CBS games are streamed on Paramount+. NBC games are on Peacock. ESPN games are on ESPN+. Starting in 2024, Netflix will stream at least one Christmas Day game each season.

The Super Bowl TV rights rotate among CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. The NFL's latest TV deal started in 2023 and runs through 2033. This deal allows networks to stream games on their own services. The NFL also has deals with Spanish-language broadcasters.

Before 2015, the NFL had a "blackout policy." If a home stadium wasn't sold out, the game wouldn't be shown on local TV. But this policy was stopped in 2015. NFL games are very popular. They are often the most-watched TV shows in the U.S. The Super Bowl holds records for the most-watched programs in American history.

Radio and Innovations

Many NFL games are also broadcast on national radio networks. These games can be heard across the country. Each NFL team also has its own local radio network.

The NFL has introduced new ways to watch football. For example, the Skycam camera system was first used in an NFL game. Commentator John Madden made the telestrator famous. This device lets commentators draw on the screen to explain plays.

The NFL also works with social media companies like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. These are official places for league and team news.

NFL Draft

Each April, the NFL holds a draft for college players. This is where teams pick new players.

How the Draft Works

The draft has seven rounds. Each of the 32 teams gets one pick in each round. The order of picks is based on how teams finished the last season. Teams that didn't make the playoffs pick earlier. Among playoff teams, those who went further in the playoffs pick later. The Super Bowl champion always picks last. The Super Bowl losing team picks second to last.

To be eligible for the draft, players must be at least three years out of high school. Younger players can apply to enter early. Teams can trade draft picks for future picks. But they cannot trade players they have already drafted.

Teams also get extra "compensatory draft picks." These are given to teams that lost more good free agents than they gained. These picks are in rounds 3 to 7. Teams have a limited time to make their pick. If they don't pick on time, other teams can pick before them. If a player is drafted, they can only sign with that team. If they don't sign, they can enter the next year's draft. Drafted players sign four-year deals. Their pay depends on where they were picked. Players who are not drafted can sign with any team.

Other Drafts

The NFL also has other types of drafts. There's a supplemental draft each year. Teams bid on players in this draft. If a team wins a bid, they lose a pick in the same round of the next NFL draft. Players can only enter this draft if they get special permission.

The league also holds expansion drafts. The most recent one was in 2002. This happened when the Houston Texans joined the league as a new team.

The NFL has rules for a "disaster draft." This would happen if a team lost many players due to a disaster. Luckily, these rules have never been needed.

Free Agency

In the NFL, players whose contracts have ended are called free agents. They can sign with new teams.

Types of Free Agents

There are two main types of free agents:

• Restricted free agents: These players have played for three seasons. Their old contract has ended. They can talk to other teams. But their old team has the right to match any offer. If the old team doesn't match, they get draft picks as a trade-off.
• Unrestricted free agents: These players have played for four or more seasons. Their contract has ended. They can sign with any team they want. Their old team doesn't get any compensation.

A "season" means playing in at least six regular-season games.

Franchise and Transition Tags

Teams can use a "franchise tag" on one unrestricted free agent. This is a one-year contract. It pays the player a high salary. There are two kinds of franchise tags:

• Exclusive tags: The player cannot talk to other teams.
• Non-exclusive tags: The player can talk to other teams. But their old team can match any offer. If they don't match, they get two first-round draft picks.

Teams can also use a "transition tag." This is like a non-exclusive franchise tag. But the old team doesn't get any draft picks if they don't match an offer. Because of this, the transition tag is rarely used.

All teams must follow a salary cap. This is a limit on how much money they can spend on player salaries.

Players on a team's practice squad are also a type of free agent. They can sign with any other team's main roster. But they cannot sign with another team's practice squad unless their original team releases them first.

Images for kids

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  Roger Goodell, National Football League Commissioner since 2006 (pictured in 2012)

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  Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft

See also

• American football in the United States
• List of NFL champions (1920–1969)
• List of Super Bowl champions (1966–present)
• National Football League All-Decade Teams
• National Football League franchise moves and mergers
• National Football League records
• NFL Films
• List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees