There are many professional sports in the United States, but none is more popular than the NFL. With the start of the new season just around the corner on Wednesday, September 9th, let’s learn a little about the game that millions of people love.

The person most often called the “Father of American Football” is Walter Camp, a Yale player who helped shape the game. American football developed from a combination of soccer and rugby, and Camp introduced several important rule changes in the 1880s. These included the line of scrimmage (where the ball is snapped), the system of downs (the team’s attempts to move the ball), and teams of 11 players.

Walter Camp, the “Father of American Football “

In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was founded in Canton, Ohio. Two years later, it changed its name to the National Football League (NFL), the league we know today.

Today, the NFL has 32 teams. They are divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference is divided into four divisions – East, North, South, and West – with four teams in each division.

Key Vocabulary:

• Offense – The team with the ball.
• Defense – The team trying to stop the offense.
• Receiver (WR) – A player who catches passes.
• Running Back (RB) – A player who primarily runs with the ball.
• Huddle – When players gather to discuss the next play.
• Audible – A last-second change to the play called by the quarterback.
• Blitz – When extra defenders rush the quarterback.
• Playoff – Postseason tournament to determine the champion.

The AFC

• The AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. 
• The AFC North: the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers. 
• The AFC South: the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans
• The AFC West: the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.

The NFC

• The NFC East: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders. 
• The NFC North: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. 
• The NFC South: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 
• The NFC West: the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks.

During the regular season, teams compete within their divisions and conferences for playoff spots, and the champions of the AFC and NFC face each other in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion.

Photos from Past Super Bowls

The Basic Rules:

Each team has an offense and a defense, with 11 players on each side. The offense tries to move the ball down a 100-yard field and into the opponent’s end zone, while the defense tries to stop them.

Downs: The offense gets four chances (called downs) to move the ball 10 yards. If they gain 10 yards or more, they earn a first down and receive a new set of four downs. If they fail to do this, possession is turned over to the other team, and the offense and defense switch roles.

The Clock: A game lasts 60 minutes, divided into four 15-minute quarters. However, because the clock stops frequently, a televised game usually takes about three hours to complete.

How Scoring Works

• Touchdown (6 points): Running or catching the ball in the opponent’s end zone.
• Extra Point / Two-Point Conversion (1 or 2 points): Attempted immediately after a touchdown. Kicking the ball through the uprights earns 1 point; running or passing it into the end zone earns 2 points.
• Field Goal (3 points): Kicking the ball through the uprights, usually on fourth down, when the offense is close enough to score but unlikely to reach the end zone.
• Safety (2 points): A rare play in which the defense tackles an offensive player holding the ball in their own end zone.

More Vocabulary:

• Touchdown: Scoring 6 points by getting the ball into the opponent’s end zone. 
• Quarterback (QB): The player who leads the offense and usually throws the ball. 
• End Zone: The scoring area at each end of the field. 
• First Down: Earning another set of four downs by gaining 10 yards. 
• Down: One of the offense’s four chances to advance the ball 10 yards. 
• Line of Scrimmage: The spot where the ball is placed before each play begins. 
• Snap: The action that starts a play when the center gives the ball to the quarterback. 
• Pass: Throwing the ball to a teammate. 
• Run: Carrying the ball instead of throwing it. 
• Tackle: Bringing the ball carrier to the ground. 
• Field Goal: A kick through the uprights worth 3 points. 
• Interception: When the defense catches a pass intended for the offense. 
• Fumble: When a player loses possession of the ball before being down. 
• Sack: Tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. 
• Turnover: When possession changes because of an interception, fumble, or failed fourth down. 
• Punt: A kick to the other team, usually on fourth down. 
• Red Zone: The area inside the opponent’s 20-yard line where scoring is likely.
•  Penalty: A rule violation that results in a loss or gain of yards. 
• Overtime: Extra playing time if the score is tied after regulation. 
• Super Bowl: The NFL championship game played each February.

The 10 greatest players of all time

10. EMMITT SMITH, RUNNING BACK(RB) (1990-2004), 9. JOE MONTANA, QUARTERBACK(QB) (1979-1994), 8. PATRICK MAHOMES, QUARTERBACK (QB) (2017-PRESENT), 7. REGGIE WHITE, DEFENSIVE END(DE) (1985-1998, 2000), 6. WALTER PAYTON, RUNNING BACK(RB) (1975-1987), 5. PEYTON MANNING, QUARTERBACK(QB) (1998-2015), 4. LAWRENCE TAYLOR, LINEBACKER(LB) (1981-1993), 3. JIM BROWN, RUNNING BACK(RB) (1957-1965), 2. JERRY RICE, WIDE RECEIVER(WR) (1985-04), 1. TOM BRADY, QUARTERBACK(QB) (2000-2022)