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National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the premier professional organization for American football, with 32 teams in two conferences and almost 1,700 active players. In 2024, the NFL generated nearly $23B in revenue. With its teams valued at $190B combined, it is the most valuable sports league in the world.
American football began as a hybrid of soccer and rugby on post-Civil War college campuses. Football was wildly popular but disorganized in the early 1900s. In an effort to standardize and organize, the National Football League was formed in 1920 in Canton, Ohio.
The popularity of the NFL has made it a global sport. In 2002 the NFL began featuring fantasy games on its site, tapping into what is now a $20B industry. Explore National Football League
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The NFL is so successful because it is perfectly suited for televisionThe predictable weekly cadence of football games ritualizes the experience of watching together, and their relative scarcity makes every game meaningful. With the stop-and-go play of the sport, there are predictable, repeating stoppages to allow broadcasters to sell lots of advertising inventory. The league sits in the sweet spot compared to MLB (many games) and NBA and soccer (continuous play with fewer ads). This Acquired episode distills fascinating insights into the NFL's business and history. AcquiredRivalry between the AFL and NFL led to a merger—and the creation of the Super BowlCompetition between the American Football League and the National Football League led to a 1966 merger agreement, with the Super Bowl created as a championship game to determine league supremacy before the two leagues were fully integrated. NFLThe NFL selects the Super Bowl host city years in advance and follows a list of criteriaSince 2018, the NFL has invited select cities to negotiate hosting rights rather than accept open bids, with owners voting based on stadium size, climate, hotels, transportation, security capacity, and infrastructure. YahooTom Brady has played in and won the most Super Bowls of any NFL playerAppearing in 10 Super Bowls and winning seven—both NFL records—Tom Brady captured championships with two different teams, an unmatched résumé that has led many to regard the former sixth-round pick as the greatest player in league history. YoutubeSee the evolution of Super Bowl logos and how the NFL refined its visual identity over timeTracing Super Bowl logos from early, varied designs to today’s standardized look shows how the NFL adapted to shifting design trends, television demands, and brand strategy. Logo PoppinSeveral NFL teams incorporate yoga into their trainingAlthough brawny football players might not seem like obvious yogis, many of the NFL’s athletes have taken to the practice for flexibility and mindfulness. Several teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys, make the practice a part of their conditioning routine. Associated Press'Scorigami' attempts to chart every NFL game scoreThe rules of the sport set bounds on possible final outcomes, so this adept statistician mined some fascinating takeaways. Some scores are impossible (like 5 to 1) and some are more common (like 20-17, occurring over 300 times since 1944). Watch for a deluge of numbers. Secret BaseNFL kickers are kicking the ball farther than ever beforeA combination of training, technique, and new rules regarding equipment has led to a sharp improvement in kicking since 2020. Certain players are now allowed to keep footballs with them throughout the practice week and play with a ball of their choosing during games. The AthleticNFL stadiums are designed to maximize profit, not number of seatsMost stadiums are actually getting smaller as the cost of land rises. Owners have sought to increase returns by designing prestige suits and clubs (rather than just more general admission) and laying out the stadium to maximize customer purchases. The Wall Street JournalHow Carolina's Luke Huechly dominated the NFL with his intellectAs a Carolina Panther for eight seasons, Huechly used his exceptional mind to study opponents and anticipate plays. As a linebacker, he consistently led the NFL in tackles and was named All-Pro almost every season. BLITZSome allege the NFL has shifted gameplay toward fantasy Recent rule changes in the league have increased passing and point-scoring, which critics argue is motivated by a desire to appeal to fantasy-loving viewers who might be frustrated by slower, lower-scoring games. Bleacher ReportAs fantasy football grew more popular, the NFL began adapting By the late 1990s, CBS, ESPN, and Yahoo had all launched their fantasy platforms, allowing the game to grow even more popular. By 2009, the NFL took note and began offering coverage that explicitly focused on fantasy metrics, including “RedZone,” a popular Sunday show that allows viewers to tune into the most crucial moments from around the league—or across their fantasy rosters. Fantasy football is a head-to-head game based on NFL statsCompetitors draft players from across the NFL, then earn points for their real in-game achievements, like touchdowns, receptions, and interceptions. The team with the most points in a given week wins. Snowman Sports MediaHow NFL teams mistake the values of their draft picksThe NFL draft is a highly anticipated event. Each spring football franchises take turns selecting roughly 250 players over seven rounds. Teams regularly trade draft picks to reach a certain player they expect to fall at their selection point, giving market analysts the ability to determine the value of those trades. This video explores the NFL draft market's inefficiency. Michael MacKelvieThe biggest controversies of the NFLSome of the biggest controversies in NFL history didn’t just spark debate—they changed the game. From Spygate and Deflategate to concussion research and the league's ambivalent stance on it, these moments led to new rules, safety measures, and major policy shifts. Explore how each scandal shaped the league and its future. 1440The decline in value of the NFL running backRunning backs long held the role of superstar on NFL teams, carrying their team down by down to the endzone. Their salaries reflected that importance as well. But in the last 30 years, front offices and fans have taken more to the quarterback instead, who receives much higher salaries. This podcast episode breaks down the economics of the turn in the game's focus from rushing to passing. FreakonomicsThe NFL makes most of its money through media licensing dealsThe NFL, which reportedly earned more than $20B in 2023, generates its revenue through several key streams. The largest comes from media licensing deals, where networks and streaming platforms pay billions for the rights to broadcast games. Corporate sponsorships are another major contributor. 1440Inside one credit union’s big NFL betHerndon, Virginia-based Northwest Federal Credit Union is working to bring credit unions into the spotlight. The relatively small institution just made a big splash when it struck an $8M-per-year naming rights deal with the Washington Commanders. Northwest is now the official credit union partner for the team and has turned FedEx Field into Northwest Stadium. Banking nerds and sports fans alike are paying close attention. Read this article to learn more. SporticoNFL explainedThe NFL is the premier professional American football league, founded in 1920 in Canton, Ohio. It consists of 32 teams playing an 18-week regular season from September to January, culminating in the Super Bowl championship in February. The NFL has grown into the world's most valuable sports league, generating nearly $20B in revenue in 2023, and with teams valued at $163B combined. Learn its history here. 1440Every NFL team's top 10 plays of all timeIn more than a century of football, there have been a tremendous number of awe-inspiring, defy-the-odds, and borderline miracle plays. This 90-minute compilation from the NFL pulls together the top 10 plays for each time from their franchise history. NFL100 years of NFL history in under four minutesFounded in 1920 in Canton, Ohio, professional football has grown into the premiere sport in the US. Generating more than $20B annually, the NFL gained significant popularity after merging with the American Football League in 1970, a move which among other things established the Super Bowl. NFLFollowing the NFL's concussion settlement, numerous victims were denied payoutsIn 2015, the NFL finalized a landmark settlement with former players alleging concussions suffered in games were causing brain diseases. The settlement promised to pay every former player who developed dementia or diseases linked to concussions. This Washington Post investigation interviewed former players who filed claims under the agreement, but said they were rejected based on definitions in the settlement. Washington PostRams player Fred Gehrke painted the NFL's first logo helmetWhen the Rams took the field for their first preseason game of the 1948 season, they exited the tunnel with hand-painted ram horns on their helmets. It was the first logo painted on an NFL helmet and fans gave a 5-minute standing ovation. Sports IllustratedEd Sabol's vision of NFL Films impacted how sports were filmedWhen the NFL put out a bid to film the 1962 NFL Championship Game, Ed Sabol promised NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle his higher price tag would be worth it. Sabol’s style of fixed high shots, close-ups of players, and fans in the stands revolutionized how sporting events are filmed, influenced moviemakers like Ron Howard, and gave birth to NFL Films. Canton RepositoryJohn Madden influenced generations of NFL players, coaches, and fansJohn Madden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969 through 1978, never had a losing record, and won Super Bowl XI. But his post-coaching career as a broadcaster and video game brand solidified his stardom. ESPNThe greatest games in NFL historyDo you remember “The Catch”? What about the “Immaculate Reception”? Did you watch when Elway finally got his ring? Take a trip down memory lane with this Bleacher Report list of the 50 greatest games in NFL history. Explore classic NFL moments dating back to the NFL’s early days in the 1930s and '40s to the present day. Bleacher ReportThe NFL held its first draft of college players in 1936The NFL draft is a three-day spectacle with wall-to-wall media coverage and months of speculation about who will go to number one. But it wasn’t always like that. The early days of the draft were done on a chalkboard and created a need for professional scouting departments. NFLCTE is a major threat to NFL playersA week before Super Bowl LVII, Boston University released findings from a study diagnosing 91.7% of former NFL players in their 376-person study with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It was a stark comparison to the less than 1% of CTE diagnosis in non-football players. Boston UniversityIn the 1970s, the NFL developed rules to protect players from injuriesIt’s hard to imagine a football game without hash marks, but that’s how it was before Walter Camp and the rules committees changed the game. This NFL interactive deep dive goes into the evolution of the kickoff, the hash marks, and the chop block. Those rules committees are still in play today and are making the game safer for the next generation of NFL players. NFLThe NFL is the most valuable sports league in the worldNFL teams are worth a total of $228B. Each team holds an average value of over $7.6B, almost as much as the NBA and MLB combined. The Dallas Cowboys, valued at $12.5B, are the most valuable sports franchise on Earth. CNBCThere are 32 teams in the NFLClick a team's name to see their current record and opponent for the day; read the latest news, including injuries; view the remaining schedule; find out where the team is in the standings; discover the current roster; explore all player and team stats; and watch the latest video highlights. FOX SportsWhy everyone hates NFL overtimeThe first NFL overtime game in history took place between the Rams and Giants in 1955, a preseason match organized as a stunt to attract crowds. A contentious part of the new format was the sudden-death rule: The first scorer wins. Many complain about how tight games heading into a fifth quarter can end without one of the teams getting a chance to go on offense, sparking debates over fairness. While attempts to alter the rules have been made, they've often faced resistance, leaving the issue contentious in NFL history. Defector MediaNFL quarterback puts mayo in coffee, scores deal with Hellmann'sTennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis went viral when, as Kentucky's quarterback in 2022, he was captured on video using mayo in his coffee instead of cream. Now an NFL pro, Levis was offered a lifetime contract with the mayonnaise producer... CBS SportsHistory was made in the NFLTom Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 600 touchdown passes with a 9-yard scoring strike to Mike Evans on Sunday against the Bears. ESPN1440: The National Football LeagueExplore the best resources we found on the NFL 1440Katy Perry's 2015 halftime show generated many memes in the age of social mediaDuring Super Bowl XLIX, Katy Perry's halftime performance—especially the unscripted "Left Shark"—went viral, becoming one of the first Super Bowl shows to fully translate into memes across social media platforms. NFLFrom 1991-94, the Buffalo Bills lost four straight Super BowlsThe losses came against the Giants, Washington, and the Cowboys twice, completing a brutal run in which the Buffalo Bills were the only franchise to reach four consecutive Super Bowls without a championship. NFLKendrick Lamar brought his Drake feud to the Super Bowl stageAt the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans, Kendrick Lamar leaned into his high-profile feud with Drake, turning months of diss-track drama into one of the most discussed performances in recent Super Bowl history. NFLThe Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit in Super Bowl LIIn Super Bowl LI, the New England Patriots erased a 28-3 third-quarter deficit against Atlanta, forcing the first overtime in a Super Bowl and winning 34-28, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. NFLJohn Elway's 'helicopter dive' capped his first Super Bowl title at 37In Super Bowl XXXII, John Elway's airborne "helicopter" scramble symbolized his deep desire to win his first championship at age 37, after losing three previous Super Bowls. NFLMalcolm Butler's late interception sealed the Patriots' Super Bowl XLIX victoryIn Super Bowl XLIX, the Seattle Seahawks' potential game-winning drive ended when Malcolm Butler intercepted a goal-line pass, sealing a 28-24 victory for the New England Patriots. NFLA major upset in Super Bowl XLII prevented the Patriots from completing an undefeated seasonIn Super Bowl XLII, the heavily favored New England Patriots lost 17-14 to the Giants, ending a 16-0 season after David Tyree's improbable helmet catch set up the winning drive. NFLThe first Super Bowl didn't sell out—and the Packers won in a routPlayed on January 15, 1967, as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, Super Bowl I failed to sell out the Los Angeles Coliseum as Vince Lombardi's Green Bay defeated Kansas City 35-10. NFLThe quarterback cadence is a unique quirk to the game of footballOnly the offense knows when the ball will be snapped, giving the team with the ball the advantage. Common combinations of colors and numbers (like "blue 42") were codes for plays early in the sport, but are now used arbitrarily. NFL FilmsGeorge Blanda was the first fantasy football draft pickThe first pick in the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League was future Hall of Famer George Blanda, then an Oakland Raider. Blanda played quarterback and kicker. Because of his dual role, the GOPPPL allowed him to be drafted twice, by two separate competitors. ESPN.com'RedZone' intentionally appealed to fantasy fansThis short documentary explains how the NFL Network show quickly became a hit for football fans, especially those looking to monitor the stats for their fantasy teams. NFLIbogaine, a psychedelic substance, can be used to treat mental illnessAlthough the substance is banned in the US, it's legal in Mexico. Americans who have traveled there for treatment, including the NFL's Braden Smith, say the drug helps deal with conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder. CNNExplaining the 1985 Chicago Bears defense, the greatest everLed by coach Mike Ditka, the Bears' 1985 defensive unit led the league in total points allowed, yards allowed, and total takeaways. Throughout the season, the team maintained an average of 12.4 points per game, and during its last three playoff games, it only allowed ten points. Few teams have come close to such a defensive display. The Sporting BlogVince Lombardi: the coach who put Green Bay on the mapVince Lombardi experienced a legendary rise from his Brooklyn youth to the sidelines of Lambeau Field. His final years of life included a three-peat with the Green Bay Packers, his brief tenure as head coach in Washington, and a sudden, tragic death from cancer. NFL FilmsFor years, Black players were tacitly banned from professional football leaguesIn 1902, Charles Follis was the first Black player to play in a professional football game, and Black players were allowed in years after other leagues banned them. A "gentleman’s agreement” led to the league banning Black players in 1933, until four Black men reintegrated pro football in 1946. The Ringer
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