The Early Days of the NFL
1. The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association.
2. The first game ever played by an NFL team took place on October 3, 1920, when the Dayton Triangles beat the Columbus Panhandles, 14-0.
Super Bowl Fun Facts
3. Super Bowl I was played on January 15, 1967, between the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
4. The cost of a 30-second commercial during Super Bowl LVI (2022) was $8 million.
Crazy Player Stats and Records
5. Peyton Manning holds the record for most career passing yards with 71,940.
6. Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards.
Interesting Trivia About Teams and Mascots
7. The Chicago Bears were originally called the Decatur Staleys before moving to Chicago in 1921.
8. The Philadelphia Eagles are named after the Blue Eagle, which was a symbol of the New Deal’s National Recovery Act.
Football Terminology Explained
9. A “Hail Mary” pass refers to a last-ditch effort to win a game by throwing a long pass into the end zone.
10. An “illegal formation” occurs when there are too many players on one side of the ball or if they aren’t lined up correctly.
Little-Known Rules and Penalties
11. If a player fumbles the ball out of bounds, it becomes the other team’s possession.
12. Defensive pass interference can result in a penalty of up to 50 yards.
Influential Coaches and Players in NFL History
13. Vince Lombardi coached the Green Bay Packers to five championships in seven years.
14. Joe Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls wins in his tenure with the team.
Unusual Game Day Traditions
15. In Seattle, fans throw fish onto the field during games at CenturyLink Field.
16. In Cincinnati, Bengals fans wear orange wigs to show their support.
Fan Culture and Experiences
17. The Dallas Cowboys have sold out every home game since 1964.
18. The tailgating scene outside Lambeau Field before Packers games has become famous in its own right.
Off-the-Field Antics and Scandals
19. Michael Vick pleaded guilty to charges related to running a dogfighting ring in 2007.
20. OJ Simpson was acquitted of murder but later found liable for wrongful death in civil court.