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NFL 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.
The 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.
The less a football wobbles as it is thrown, the better it sails through the air and into the arms of a leaping wide receiver—at least, that's what most fans believe. Researchers took a close look at the spiral of one of the best football-throwers of all time and found even his spirals wobbled a little bit.
Experts warn that fantasy sports, including fantasy football, can encourage obsessive use because they offer hits of dopamine. Daily fantasy games, which function more like gambling, are especially problematic.
"When you're good at something, you'll tell everyone. When you're great at something, they'll tell you."
Born in Brooklyn in 1913, Vince Lombardi is best known for his time as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1959 to 1967, when he led the team to five national championships over seven years. His all-out approach and inspiring one-liners have left an indelible mark on the game, causing the league to name the NFL's highest trophy—the one awarded to the Super Bowl winner—after him. Read up on the legend here.
A 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 rise of smartphones made fantasy sports more accessible and contributed to a phenomenon called “second screen consumption,” where sports fans are not only watching a live broadcast but are simultaneously watching the statistics from that game play out in their fantasy matchup.
Fantasy leagues (and their corresponding group chats) are no strangers to arguments, and this list will likely inspire a few spirited ones. Ten ESPN writers were asked to pick 30 of the undisputed greats of fantasy football, making for a fascinating look back at the all-stars of the digital gridiron
The number, estimated by the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association, has grown exponentially since the start of the century. While fantasy sports in general are popular, football is the most popular, with an estimated 79% of fantasy participants playing fantasy football.
The 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.
Art, music, sports, entertainment, movies, and many other subjects—these elements define who we are as a society and how we express ourselves as a culture. Take a deep dive into the topics shaping our shared norms, values, institutions, and more.