American Football Explained: The NFL and Its Global Rise
Learn about American football, the NFL, its basic rules, history, team names and vocabulary, and discover why the sport is growing around the world.
SPORT
9/17/202611 min read
Have you ever watched an American football game and wondered what was happening?
Why does the game stop so often? What is a down? Why does a team have four chances to move the ball? And why do Americans call it football when the players spend so much time carrying and throwing the ball?
If you are learning English, American football is an interesting way to learn more about American language and culture.
American football is the most popular sport in the United States, and the National Football League (NFL) is the country's biggest professional football league. The sport is also becoming increasingly popular outside the United States.
In September 2026, more than 100,000 people watched an NFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
So, what is American football, how does it work, and why do so many Americans love it?
Welcome to the fourth article in my series for intermediate English learners on the topic of sport. The first article was on golf, and in the second we learnt about the FIFA World Cup, and the third article looked at the Commonwealth Games.
What Is American Football?
American football is a team sport in which two teams try to move an oval-shaped ball down a field and score points by reaching the other team's end zone.
An NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets. Photo by Fredrick Lee on Unsplash
The main professional league is the National Football League, usually called the NFL.
The NFL has 32 teams, including famous teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.
Each team has 11 players on the field at one time. Unlike many other sports, however, the players have very specialised jobs. Some mainly attack, some defend, and others specialise in kicking.
The basic idea is simple:
By National Football League - A GENTE TAMBÉM JOGA | NFL BRASIL, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17153791
Move the ball forward, reach the other team's end zone and score more points than the opposition.
The rules can seem complicated at first, but you don't need to understand every rule to enjoy a game.
How Does American Football Work?
The team with the ball is called the offence. The team trying to stop them is the defence.
The offence tries to move the ball towards the other team's end zone. It can do this by running with the ball or passing it to another player.
One of the most unusual features of American football is the system of downs.
What Is a Down?
A down is one opportunity for the offence to move the ball.
A team normally has four downs to gain ten yards.
For example:
The team starts with the ball.
It has four downs to gain ten yards.
If it gains ten yards, it gets another four downs.
The process continues until the team scores, loses the ball or fails to gain enough yards.
You may hear an American football commentator say:
"It's third down and two."
This means it is the team's third opportunity, and it needs another two yards to get a new set of four downs.
How Do You Score in American Football?
There are several ways to score.
The most important is a touchdown, worth six points. A player scores by carrying the ball into the other team's end zone or catching the ball there.
A field goal is worth three points. A player kicks the ball between the goalposts.
A safety, which is less common, is worth two points.
For a beginner, these are the most important scores to remember:
Touchdown = 6 points
Field goal = 3 points
Safety = 2 points
Why Is American Football So Popular in the United States?
American football is more than just a popular sport in the United States. It is an important part of American culture.
Football has been America's favourite sport since the 1970s, when it overtook baseball. It continues to be the most popular sport in the country by a wide margin.
One reason is that many Americans start watching football at a young age.
A College football game fills the Texas A&M stadium. Photo by Zabdiel Gonzalez on Unsplash
High School Football
High school football is an important tradition in many American communities.
In some towns, Friday night football games attract large crowds. Students, parents and other members of the community come to watch the local team.
For many Americans, football is therefore connected with memories of school and childhood.
College Football
College football is also extremely popular. American universities have their own football teams, stadiums and traditions. Some college stadiums can hold more than 100,000 people.
College football has its own rivalries and passionate supporters. It is also an important route into professional football because many NFL players first become well known through college football.
The NFL and American Culture
For many Americans, Sunday is closely associated with NFL football.
Families and friends may get together to watch their favourite team. People wear team shirts and hats, eat special food and discuss the games with friends and colleagues.
Many people support the same NFL team for their entire lives.
In this way, American football has become part of everyday American life.
What Is the NFL?
NFL stands for the National Football League.
It is the main professional American football league in the United States and currently has 32 teams.
The teams are divided into two conferences: the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).
During the regular season, teams play a series of games. The best teams then qualify for the playoffs.
The playoffs eventually lead to the Super Bowl, the championship game of the NFL.
What Is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl is the final championship game of the NFL season.
It is one of the biggest sporting events in the United States, but it has become much more than a football game.
Millions of people watch it on television, including many people who do not normally follow the NFL.
The Super Bowl is famous for:
the football game;
the halftime entertainment;
expensive television advertisements;
celebrity appearances;
parties and special food;
enormous media coverage.
The combination of sport and entertainment is an important part of the NFL's popularity.
A Short History of American Football
American football developed in the United States during the 19th century.
It came from earlier forms of football and rugby, but American universities gradually developed their own rules.
The National Football League was established in 1920.
The sport became increasingly popular during the 20th century. Television was particularly important because it allowed millions of Americans to watch professional football from home.
The NFL became stronger after a merger with the American Football League, and the first Super Bowl was played in 1967.
Over the following decades, the NFL grew into a huge sporting and entertainment business.
Cheerleaders are part of the NFL game day entertainment. Pictured here are the famous Dallas Cowgirls. Photo: 01/01/2014 · Library of Congress · Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress Collection
Today, American football is deeply connected with American popular culture.
Why Is American Football Called Football?
This is a common question for people outside the United States. In most countries, football means what Americans call soccer.
The word football has a long history and has been used for different games involving a ball and the feet. American football developed from sports related to rugby and other forms of football, so the name remained even though modern American football involves much more running, throwing and catching than kicking.
In the United States, football means American football.
American Football Vocabulary for English Learners
American football has a lot of specialised vocabulary. You don't need to learn all of it, but these words will help you understand an NFL game.
Quarterback
The quarterback is usually the main player on the offence. The quarterback can throw the ball, hand it to another player or sometimes run with it.
Touchdown
A touchdown is the main way of scoring in American football. It is worth six points.
End Zone
The end zone is the area at each end of the field where teams try to score touchdowns.
Tackle
To tackle a player means to bring that player to the ground, usually by grabbing or hitting them.
Pass
A pass is when a player throws the ball to another player.
Interception
An interception happens when a defensive player catches a pass intended for an attacking player. This can suddenly change the game because the defending team gets possession of the ball.
Fumble
A fumble happens when a player loses control of the ball while running or being tackled. Either team may be able to recover the ball.
Sack
A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the quarterback before the quarterback can throw the ball.
Punt
A punt is a kick used when a team decides to give the ball to the other team rather than continue trying to gain enough yards.
These words are among the most useful American football terms for a new viewer.
Why Do NFL Teams Have Unusual Names?
NFL team names are interesting for English learners because many have connections with American history, geography or culture.
Some teams are named after animals:
Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles
Chicago Bears
Miami Dolphins
Carolina Panthers
Other names have local or historical connections.
Philadelphia Eagles fans with the Eagles mascot. Photo by Casey Murphy on Unsplash
The San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are named after the people who travelled to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. These people became known as the 49ers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh has a long history of steel production. The Pittsburgh Steelers name reflects the importance of the steel industry to the city. A steelworker is a person who works in the steel industry.
The New England Patriots
A patriot is a person who loves and strongly supports their country. The New England Patriots' name refers to the history of the American Revolution and the struggle for American independence.
The Las Vegas Raiders
A raider is someone who makes a sudden attack. The name was chosen because it sounded aggressive and powerful – qualities that sports teams often want their names to suggest.
The Tennessee Titans
A Titan was one of a group of powerful gods in ancient Greek mythology. Today, the word titan can also describe a very powerful or important person or organisation.
NFL team names can therefore teach us something about American history, local industries and the English language.
Is American Football the Same as Rugby?
No, although the two sports have some similarities. Both American football and rugby use an oval-shaped ball. Both involve running, passing and tackling. However, the games are quite different.
American football has:
four downs;
frequent breaks in play;
specialised attacking and defensive players;
extensive protective equipment;
forward passing as an important part of the game.
Rugby is generally more continuous, with players both attacking and defending throughout the game.
So, if you already understand rugby, you may recognise some ideas in American football, but the rules are very different.
Is American Football Becoming Popular Around the World?
For most of its history, American football was mainly played and watched in the United States. That is changing.
The NFL has been making a serious effort to introduce American football to international audiences.
Regular-season NFL games have been played in countries including:
England
Germany
Mexico
Brazil
Spain
France
Australia
London has become an important destination for NFL games, while Germany, Mexico and Brazil have also hosted regular-season games.
Real Madrid's famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is filled with fans to watch an NFL game there in 2025.
The NFL is not simply taking exhibition games to other countries. It is taking regular-season games, meaning games that count towards the teams' official season results.
This is an important part of the league's international strategy.
American Football Comes to Australia
The international growth of American football reached an important moment in Australia in September 2026. The San Francisco 49ers played the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
It was the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Australia. And the crowd was enormous.
100,021 people attended the game.
The number was significant because it made the Melbourne game one of the largest regular-season crowds in NFL history. The 49ers won 27–7, but the result was almost secondary to the occasion itself.
The MCG is one of Australia's most famous sporting stadiums. Australians normally associate it with sports such as Australian Rules football and cricket.
Seeing more than 100,000 people watching American football at the MCG was a striking example of the NFL's growing international appeal.
An American sport that once seemed very distant from Australian sporting culture had suddenly filled one of Australia's most famous sporting venues.
Why Does the NFL Want to Go Global?
There are several reasons why the NFL is trying to grow American football around the world.
One obvious reason is business. More international fans can mean more television viewers, merchandise sales, sponsorship and other commercial opportunities.
But the NFL is also trying to introduce the sport to young people. One important example is flag football.
Flag football is a version of American football without the heavy physical contact of traditional tackle football. Instead of tackling a player to the ground, a defender removes a flag attached to the player's clothing. Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
This could help introduce American football to people in countries where traditional American football has never been popular.
Will American Football Become a Global Sport?
American football still has a long way to go before it can compete with football (soccer) as a truly global sport. Football/soccer is played in almost every country, while American football remains much less familiar in many parts of the world.
The rules can also be difficult for new fans to understand. The equipment is expensive, and the game requires large numbers of specialised players.
However, the NFL is actively taking the sport to international fans. The 100,021 people who attended the first NFL regular-season game in Australia are a good example.
The NFL may have started as a distinctly American sport, but it is increasingly becoming an international one.
Conclusion: American Football Goes Global
American football is a fascinating part of American culture. For English learners, it is also an opportunity to learn about the United States, its history, popular culture and a large collection of useful American English vocabulary.
The basic idea is simple: move the ball towards the opponent's end zone and score more points than the other team. The rules may take longer to understand, but once you know the basics, watching an NFL game becomes much easier.
The NFL is also changing. From England and Germany to Brazil, Mexico and Australia, the league is building an international audience. The Melbourne game in September 2026 was a particularly striking example.
So, if you are learning English and have never really understood American football, why not give it a try? Learning a little about the sport could help you understand not only NFL games, but also an interesting part of American English and culture. And who knows? You might even find yourself supporting a team.
Famous former running back Adrian Peterson in a Pro Bowl game.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Football
How many players are on an American football team?
An American football team has 11 players on the field at one time. However, NFL teams have many more players available because different players specialise in offence, defence and special teams.
How long is an American football game?
An NFL game has four quarters of 15 minutes, but the actual game normally takes around three hours because the clock stops frequently and there are breaks in play.
What is the difference between American football and soccer?
American football and soccer are different sports. American football is played with an oval ball and involves running, passing and tackling, while soccer is mainly played by kicking a round ball. In the United States, the word football means American football, while soccer means the sport called football in most other countries.
Where can I watch American football?
NFL games are broadcast in many countries, although the channels and streaming services vary from country to country. The NFL also publishes information about international games and broadcasts through its official website.
Why should English learners learn about American football?
American football is an important part of American culture, so learning about it can help English learners understand conversations, news reports, television programmes and American sports vocabulary. It is also an interesting way to learn about American history and culture.