Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
American football
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Jalen Hurts ”Father of American Football”
Brainguard helmet
Dartmouth's football team Fielding Yost Red Grange
Watch the highlights of the Sugar Bowl games from January 1946
See highlights of gridiron football games from October 27, 1956
Jim Thorpe Sammy Baugh
For Students
gridiron football summary
Quizzes
Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)
Great Moments in Sports Quiz
Cricket bat and ball. cricket sport of cricket.Homepage blog 2011, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
Sports Quiz
Rugby players on team, France.
All Things Football
Assorted sports balls including a basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, baseball and others.
American Sports Nicknames
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 16: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Quiz
Read Next
GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 9: More than 88,000 people attend the UF home game as the Gators host the LSU Tigers in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a SEC football match on October 9, 2010 at Gainseville, FL. football
The 24 Days of College Football Bowls
Car with a pickle design in the Zagreb Red Bull Soapbox Race, Zagreb, Croatia, September 14, 2019. (games, races, sports)
10 Unusual Sports
Discover
The Battle of New Orleans, by E. Percy Moran, c. 1910. Andrew Jackson, War of 1812.
26 Decade-Defining Events in U.S. History
David Cameron. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom talk during the G8 Summit at the Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, June 17, 2013
What’s the Difference Between a President and a Prime Minister?
Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
12 Greek Gods and Goddesses
Young boys working in a thread spinning mill in Macon, Georgia, 1909. Boys are so small they have to climb onto the spinning frame to reach and fix broken threads and put back empty bobbins. Child labor. Industrial revolution
The Rise of the Machines: Pros and Cons of the Industrial Revolution
Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)
All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Happy, smiling, flying pig
7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From

American football: Facts & Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/American-football
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As the gridiron sport • gridiron football

Photos and Videos

Jalen Hurts
”Father of American Football”
Dartmouth's football team
Fielding Yost
Red Grange
Jim Thorpe
Sammy Baugh
Fritz Pollard
George Halas
Lawrence Taylor
Brainguard helmet
Watch the highlights of the Sugar Bowl games from January 1946
See highlights of gridiron football games from October 27, 1956
Witness the victory of the New York Giants over the Green Bay Packers, November 19, 1944
Find out why each Super Bowl is numbered with Roman numerals
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics

Key People

Herb Adderley
American football player
Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence
American football player
Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
American football player
Forrest Gregg
American football player and coach
Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson
American football coach
Josh Allen
Josh Allen
American football player
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes
American football player
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow
American football player
Tyreek Hill
Tyreek Hill
American football player
John Riggins
American football player
Tommy Tuberville
Tommy Tuberville
United States senator
Walter Achiu
Walter Achiu
American football player
Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
American football player
Kyle Shanahan
Kyle Shanahan
American football coach
Fritz Crisler
American football coach
Jim Langer
American football player
Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson
American football player
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski
American football player
Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa
American football player
Jalen Hurts
Jalen Hurts
American football player

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Assorted sports balls including a basketball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, baseball and others.
American Sports Nicknames
Rugby players on team, France.
All Things Football
Rich Harden no. 40 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers. July 31, 2008 at Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Cubs defeated the Brewers 11-4. Major League Baseball (MLB).
Sports Firsts Through the Ages Quiz
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 16: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 16, 2012 in Arlington, Texas. Playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Quiz
Cricket bat and ball. cricket sport of cricket.Homepage blog 2011, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics
Sports Quiz
Serena Williams poses with the Daphne Akhurst Trophy after winning the Women's Singles final against Venus Williams of the United States on day 13 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (tennis, sports)
Great Moments in Sports Quiz
American football players. Carry football, run, push, jump.
Football Frenzy
Bobby Riggs (bottom) and Billie Jean King during the "Battle of the Sexes" match at the Houston Astrodome, Texas, September 20, 1973. (tennis)
Sports Moments Nicknames Quiz
American football players. Carry football, run, push, jump.
Football Frenzy
List
Car with a pickle design in the Zagreb Red Bull Soapbox Race, Zagreb, Croatia, September 14, 2019. (games, races, sports)
10 Unusual Sports