American football is a gridiron code played between two teams of eleven, advancing an oval ball by running or passing it toward the opposing end zone; it is the dominant winter team sport in the United States. The offense has four attempts, called downs, to advance the ball ten yards; succeeding resets the count to a new first down, while failing turns the ball over to the opposing team. Scoring methods include the touchdown (six points, for advancing the ball into the opposing end zone, ordinarily followed by a one or two point conversion attempt), the field goal (three points, kicking the ball through the opposing goalposts) and the safety (two points, awarded to the defense for tackling a ball carrier in his own end zone). A standard game is four fifteen-minute quarters. The offense typically fields a quarterback, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and an offensive line; the defense typically fields a defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs, though exact groupings vary considerably by scheme. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Disputed
Origin YearThe first intercollegiate game, Rutgers against Princeton on 6 November 1869, was played under rules closer to association football than to the modern game. Walter Camp's rule changes through the 1880s, the line of scrimmage and downs, and the forward pass added in 1906, are what separated American football from its rugby football and association football ancestors, so no single year cleanly marks when the game began. Originating Region International Governing BodyInternational Federation of American Football (IFAF) is the global governing body; the National Football League governs the sport's dominant professional league in the United States. 1 Connections
Derived From
Source Wikipedia, American Football
Source Wikipedia, American Football
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Source National Football League (Wikipedia)
Source NFL, Official Super Bowl History
Governed By
Source Wikipedia, International Federation of American Football
Long-Form Articles
Played By
Source Ace Parker (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia, Barry Sanders
Source Bernie Casey (Wikipedia)
Source Brad Johnson (American football) (Wikipedia)
Source Corey Dillon (Wikipedia)
Source Evan Mathis (Wikipedia)
Source Jack Trice (Wikipedia)
Source Jake Scott (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia: Jerry Rice
Source Jim Hines (Wikipedia)
Source Encyclopaedia Britannica
Source John Henry Johnson (Wikipedia)
Source Richard Seymour (Wikipedia)
Source Roman Gabriel (Wikipedia)
Source Sammy Baugh (Wikipedia)
Source Tommie Smith (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia, Walter Payton
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1. Encyclopaedia Britannica
Wikipedia, American Football
Wikimedia FoundationLead sentence
American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end.
Derived From: Rugby Union, Introduction
American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby.
Derived From: Association Football, Introduction
American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of soccer and rugby.
View the Source NFL, Official Super Bowl History
National Football League (NFL)Featured In: Super Bowl
Wikipedia, International Federation of American Football
WikipediaGoverned By: International Federation of American Football (IFAF), Lead section, scope of governanceView the Source Corey Dillon (Wikipedia)
Played By: Corey Dillon, Lead paragraph [plays]Quote, Played By: Corey Dillon, Lead paragraph [plays]
is an American former professional football running back
Brad Johnson (American football) (Wikipedia)
Played By: Brad Johnson (American football), Lead paragraph [plays]Quote, Played By: Brad Johnson (American football), Lead paragraph [plays]
is an American former professional football quarterback
Ace Parker (Wikipedia)
Played By: Ace Parker, Lead [plays]Quote, Played By: Ace Parker, Lead [plays]
He played professional football as a quarterback, tailback and safety in the National Football League (NFL)
Wikipedia: Jerry Rice
WikipediaPlayed By: Jerry Rice, lead paragraph, playsQuote, Played By: Jerry Rice, lead paragraph, plays
Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Wikipedia, Walter Payton
WikipediaPlayed By: Walter Payton, IntroductionQuote, Played By: Walter Payton, Introduction
Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953 - November 1, 1999) was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Wikipedia, Barry Sanders
WikipediaPlayed By: Barry Sanders, lead paragraph, playsQuote, Played By: Barry Sanders, lead paragraph, plays
Barry David Sanders (born July 16, 1968) is an American former professional football running back who played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons.
Tommie Smith (Wikipedia)
Played By: Tommie Smith, Lead sentenceQuote, Played By: Tommie Smith, Lead sentence
is an American former track and field athlete and wide receiver in the American Football League.
Evan Mathis (Wikipedia)
Played By: Evan Mathis, Lead sentenceQuote, Played By: Evan Mathis, Lead sentence
is an American former professional football player who was a guard for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Richard Seymour (Wikipedia)
Played By: Richard Seymour, Lead sentenceQuote, Played By: Richard Seymour, Lead sentence
is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and
Sammy Baugh (Wikipedia)
Played By: Sammy Baugh, Lead sentenceQuote, Played By: Sammy Baugh, Lead sentence
was an American professional football quarterback
Bernie Casey (Wikipedia)
Played By: Bernie Casey, Lead paragraph [plays]Quote, Played By: Bernie Casey, Lead paragraph [plays]
was an American professional football player and actor
Jack Trice (Wikipedia)
Played By: Jack Trice, Lead sentence [plays]Quote, Played By: Jack Trice, Lead sentence [plays]
was an American college football player
John Henry Johnson (Wikipedia)
Played By: John Henry Johnson, Lead sentence [plays]Quote, Played By: John Henry Johnson, Lead sentence [plays]
a fullback in the National Football League
Jim Hines (Wikipedia)
Played By: Jim Hines, Lead paragraph [plays 2]Quote, Played By: Jim Hines, Lead paragraph [plays 2]
National Football League (NFL) player
Roman Gabriel (Wikipedia)
Played By: Roman Gabriel, Lead, sportQuote, Played By: Roman Gabriel, Lead, sport
professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL)
National Football League (Wikipedia)
Featured In: National Football League, Lead paragraph of the English Wikipedia article [scope]Quote, Featured In: National Football League, Lead paragraph of the English Wikipedia article [scope]
is a professional American football league in the United States
Jake Scott (Wikipedia)
Played By: Jake Scott, Lead, paragraph 1 [plays]Quote, Played By: Jake Scott, Lead, paragraph 1 [plays]
American professional football player
Essays About This Entity (2 essays)
The Super Bowl Began as a Merger Settlement Between Two Leagues
The sport the game is built around, cited for context on the two merging leagues.
Read the EssayFootball Split Into Six Codes Within Thirty-Six Years
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