About the National Football League

Quarterback (QB)

Numbers: 1-19

The quarterback takes the football from the center to start
each play. Usually, the QB takes the responsibility for
play-calling in certain game situations, and at very least is
the player who takes the signal from the sideline and
communicates the play to the offense. Once the ball has been
“snapped” (passed from the center to the QB), the quarterback
can make one of three choices.

• He can run the ball
• He can choose to hand the ball to any eligible player
• He can thhow a forward pass to a reciever further down the field

Quarterbacks are some of the best-known and highest-profile
players in the league. The best quarterbacks command high
salaries and make fortunes in endorsement deals.

Running Back (RB/FB)

Numbers: 20-49

Running backs line up behind the offensive line and stand
near enough to the quarterback to accept the ball and make a run
for it. Teams can use anywhere from zero to three running backs
in a play. Traditionally, running backs are broken up into two
categories – standard running backs, who tend to be quick but
strong with good hands for receiving, and fullbacks, who often
serve as blockers and guards and tend to be stronger and not as
fast.

Wide Receiver (WR)

Numbers: 10-19 / 80-89

Wide receivers specialize in catching passes. Sometimes, wide
receivers are called on to block, especially on run plays.
Generally, receivers line up in two split groups on either
sideline at the start of each play. Receivers can line up in any
position behind the line of scrimmage. The ideal wide receiver
body is lithe and quick – they are often the lightest and
fastest players on the offense.

Tight End (TE)

Numbers: 40-49 / 80-89

The tight end position is a hybrid of lineman, receiver, and
running back. Teams can have anywhere from zero to two TEs on
any play. They tend to lineup on either end of the line, next to
the OTs. Tight ends are usually called on to block more than to
catch a pass or run the ball. They are, however, eligible
receivers, and many NFL teams have taken advantage of that fact,
packing the ends of the line with big guys that can catch the
ball in tough spots. The ideal body type for the modern tight
end is big, tall, and quick.

Center (C)

Numbers: 50-79

The center starts the play from the line of scrimmage by
snapping the ball, usually to the quarterback. Taking up the
middle of the offensive line, the center is often the shortest,
heaviest, and strongest player on the offense. Like the other
offensive linemen, centers are responsible for both blocking the
defensive line and creating holes. The center tends to be the
leader of the O-line, calling out changes to blocking and other
adjustments.

Offensive Guard (LG/RG)

Numbers: 50-79

Two guards line up on either side of the center on every
down. They are traditionally referred to as the left and right
guards, though most players can perform from either position.
The job of these interior linemen is to block, regardless of
whether the play is on the ground or in the air. Guards
sometimes also “pull” to create holes for runners to move
through. The ideal body type to play guard would be shorter,
stockier, and more athletic than an offensive tackle, but still
taller than the center. This is a surprisingly under-appreciated
position, since they’re usually called for false start and
holding, and don’t get a chance to put up numbers. Still, a good
pair of guards can turn a good running game into a legendary
one.

Offensive Tackle (LT/RT)

Numbers: 50-79

The two linemen who play outside of each guard are called
offensive tackles. The OT on the left is the left tackle; the OT
on the right is the right tackle. They mainly block, though
occasionally they’re called on to create motion or a hole for a
runner. Since most of the best QBs in the league are
right-handed, the left tackle is a pivotal role on the line.
This player has to protect his quarterback from being hit on his
blind side. In fact, the left tackle is usually the smartest and
most talented player on the line. The ideal body size for an
offensive tackle is massive and inhumanly tall – the bigger and
taller, the better.

Positions on Defense

Defensive Tackle (DT)

Numbers: 50-79 / 90-99

Think of DTs as defensive guards – they play at the center of
the D-line generally opposite of the offensive line’s guards.
Their goal, and only goal, is to rush to whomever is holding the
football and tackle them. This is usually the passer, but can
also be a running back or receiver behind the line of scrimmage.
DTs are the giants of the defensive line – the ideal body size
for defensive tackles is 6’6” and 300+ pounds. But they also
need excellent hands and as much agility as is possible.

Defensive End (LE/RE)

Numbers: 50-79 / 90-99

Each defensive line has two defensive ends that line up next
to the DTs. These players control the ends of the D-line. Their
first goal is to attack the passer, their second goal is to
disrupt the pass, and as a final goal, they may attempt to stop
a run play. Traditionally, modern defensive ends are positioned
based on speed. The faster DE lines up on the right side of the
line – the QB’s left side – in order to take advantage of the
blind side. The player most interchangeable with defensive ends
are linebackers – in fact, they generally have the same body
type. Both DEs and LBs should be tall, and while modern LBs tend
to be lighter and faster, they come in all shapes and sizes
depending on the needs of the defense.

Linebacker (MLB/OLB)

Numbers: 40-59 / 90-99

Linebackers are the headhunters of the defense. They usually
line up behind the defensive line. Their duties depend on the
style of the team’s defense, the game situation, and their
abilities. Modern linebackers are generally broken up into two
categories – middle linebackers, who line up in line with the
center of the D-line, and outside linebackers, who flank the MLB
position. Linebackers are responsible for putting pressure on
the QB, while covering receivers and providing a general
defensive net against run plays.

Cornerback (CB)

Numbers: 20-49 (can wear 1-9 during preseason only)

One of two positions considered “defensive backs,”
cornerbacks are typically two players whose only job is to cover
wide receivers. Cornerbacks are quick and dirty pass disruptors,
skilled at swatting and confusing the direction of airborne
balls. Cornerbacks are generally more likely to catch
interceptions based on their skill set and position on the
field. Cornerbacks are always shorter, lighter, and have better
hand skills than safeties.

Safety (S)

Numbers: 20-49 (can wear 1-9 during preseason only)

Taller, heavier, and less athletic than cornerbacks, safeties
are defensive backs who line up the farthest from the line of
scrimmage of any player on the field. They play an assistant
role for cornerbacks, providing deep-pass coverage and a last
line of defense in case of a breakout run play. Safeties in the
modern game are broken up into two categories – the strong
safety (SS) and the free safety (FS). Strong safeties are the
biggest and strongest defensive backs, while free safeties are
small and quick, playing deep in the field and only getting
involved in the case of a long bomb.

Positions on Special Teams

Kicker (K/P)

Numbers: 1-19

The kicker is responsible for kicking extra points, field
goals, and kickoffs. Some teams have a specialized kicker for
punts and one for shorter-field kicks or PATs. Kickers are
usually small, no heavier than 190 pounds or so and no taller
than six feet. They’re often trained in soccer and rarely
perform any other role on the team.

Long-Snapper (LS)

Numbers: Any

Long-snappers are specialized players that fulfill an
unofficial role. Long-snappers need the particular ability to
snap the ball very long distances with pinpoint accuracy.
Generally, centers with this special talent fulfill this role,
though not every long-snapper in the business has been an
offensive lineman.

Returner (PR/KR)

Numbers: Any

A punt- or kick-returner is usually a wide receiver,
defensive back, or running back, though technically any position
can play this part. The returner is positioned to catch punts or
kicks and is usually the fastest and most agile player
available. The returner’s profile has increased in the modern
NFL – more and more returns for TDs are being recorded each year
as this specialist role is perfected. The ideal punt- or
kick-returner is tall and lithe with great hands.

Modern Game Rules

American-style football has evolved over the past 125 years,
from a variant of rugby and soccer to a unique game with a
massive global following and billions in total revenue. Let’s
take a look at how some major rules of the game have changed
since its invention.

Roughing the Passer

This rule prohibits making contact with the passer after he’s
completed the pass. The rule wasn’t added until 1938, when the
act of hitting the passer once the ball left his hand was
labeled “unnecessary roughness.” This rule change codified a
tradition whereby referees called a foul if the QB was hit,
unless he was obviously still in play. This rule change,
combined with the rule allowing forward passes in the 1920s, led
directly to the creation of the QB-dominant league we see today.

The Use of Helmets

Helmets were not required equipment for football players
until 1943. This sounds crazy to fans of the modern game,
especially considering the debate raging today over concussions
and the dangers of football. What led to the requirement for
helmets? Massive numbers of players dying from injuries received
during play. By 1943, an average of twenty people per year were
killed due to injuries sustained while not wearing a helmet.

Dead Ball and Face Mask Rules

These days, the ball is considered dead if the runner touches
the ground with any part of the body except his hands or feet
“while in the grasp of an opponent.” This hasn’t always been the
case. In the days before the rule change in 1955, runners were
sometimes called down for touching the ground with their hands.
Other leagues didn’t call a runner down until he was flat on his
back. Why was the rule changed? Teams in the 50s were mainly
concerned with low audience turnout. By codifying a number of
rules and creating a standard, the game was easier to follow.

A year later, a rule against “grasping the face mask of any
opponent except a runner” was standardized, and a penalty of
five yards established for breaking the rule. Within five years,
the problem of head trauma after face mask content had gotten so
serious, the penalty was increased to 15 yards with the
possibility of a flagrant foul and ejection.

Blocks Below the Waist

In 1974, a series of rule changes were implemented to further
protect players. The main rule added to league play went as
follows.

“Eligible receivers who take a position more than two yards
from the tackle, whether on or behind the line, may not be
blocked below the waist at or behind the line of scrimmage.”

The rule clarifies further that no receiver, eligible or not,
can be blocked below the waist past the line of scrimmage.
Blocks below the waist were sometimes called “crackback blocks,”
and the 1974 rule changes were designed to regulate them. For
example, one of the rules added prevented contact below the
waist against blockers moving toward the ball. These illegal
blocks were seen as so dangerous, the league implemented a
15-yard penalty and potential ejection for each offense.

Unnecessary Roughness

Though a penalty for “unnecessary roughness” had been part of
the league since its earliest days, the penalty had never been
codified until a group of players in 1979 threatened to strike
unless certain demands were met. One was a demand for the
addition of several hits under the unnecessary roughness
umbrella:

• Non-contact acts like throwing a punch or arm or kicking
  or pushing an opponent outside of play. This rule was later
  amended as an additional “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalty.
• The use of a helmet to “butt, spear, or ram an
  opponent.” This rule also prevented the use of the “crown or
  top of the helmet” unnecessarily.
• A chop hit by a player in the backfield, especially when
  used on an outside rusher on a pass play.

Horse-Collar Tackles

For decades, players had used the back of a player’s padding
for assistance in tackling. A horse-collar tackle was one where
the defender would grab the back collar of an opponent’s
shoulder pads and pull them directly downward, sweeping the
player’s feet out from under them. Tackles of this nature can
lead to serious injury in several parts of the body.

Banned in 2005, the tackle has fallen out of fashion to the
point that most teams won’t see a single call all season.

NFL Team Guide

Here’s a guide to each of the NFL’s thirty-two teams. We’ve
broken our guide up into conferences and divisions, because that
seemed like the most logical way to organize the list.

American Football Conference

The AFC was created after the merger of the American Football
League with the National Football League in 1970. The modern AFC
has been dominated by just a few teams – only six teams have
represented the AFC in the Super Bowl since the year 2000. By
contrast, the NFC has sent eleven teams for the same job. Here’s
a look at each team in the AFC, broken up by division.

The National Football Conference (NFC)

The NFC is the AFC’s counterpart, also created as part of the
NFL-AFL merger of 1970. The NFC is considered the conference of
parity – only one NFC team (the Detroit Lions) has never
appeared in the Super Bowl. Only one NFC team (the Seattle
Seahawks) has made back-to-back Super Bowl appearances since the
league realignment in 2002. Here’s a guide to each team in the
National Football Conference, broken up by division.

Famous NFL Coaches

The NFL is a league driven by strong personalities. At
different times in the league’s history, which now spans three
centuries, coaches have played larger and smaller public roles.
An argument could be made that the modern game is focused far
more on players than coaches, though we have our infamous coach
personalities of our own.

For this section, we wanted to pick five coaches that
represented a number of different NFL eras, but also coaches who
deserve mention. The coaches below knew how to win, and spent
time creating teams that won multiple championships, be they in
the NFL, the AFL, the NFC, or the AFC. These coaches had
longevity, a presence in the Hall of Fame, and are remembered as
much for their personality as for what they did for professional
football.

Tom Landry

Besides inventing two of the most popular forms of defense
used to this day, the Flex and the 4-3, Landry coached the
Dallas Cowboys to an astounding 20 straight winning seasons
between 1966 and 1985. Though Landry’s team won just two Super
Bowls, the Cowboys were a near-constant presence in the league’s
title game, earning 6 total conference championships under
Landry’s tutelage. Tom Landry is remembered for his hat, his
winning ways, and for creating the juggernaut that is now known
as “America’s Team.”

Bill Belichick

This is going to be a controversial pick. For starters,
Belichick seems to lack the one thing that all the other names
on this list have – a strong personality. Belichick is a
behind-the-scenes guy, a man willing to bend the rules in order
to win. How has it profited him? In just two decades, his
Patriots have won the Super Bowl three times and generally made
a fool of their opponents. The Patriots show no signs of slowing
down, having claimed seven of the last nine AFC East divisional
titles. Belichick’s trademark windbreaker and scowl are far more
memorable than anything he’s ever said in a press conference.

Paul Brown

Paul Brown earned his spot on this list in a little-known
period of NFL history. As a head coach between the years of 1946
and 1955, he led Cleveland to 10 straight championship games in
two different pro leagues, all while managing players who
constantly screamed for more money and threatened to vacate if
they didn’t get their wish. Paul Brown is the reason we have the
facemask, the concept of playbooks, the draw play, long-standing
coaching contracts, and the use of the 40-yard dash during
recruiting. Brown is also an outstanding coach because of the
coaching talent he produced – Don Shula, Lou Saban, Chuck Noll,
and Bill Walsh all studied under Brown.

Vince Lombardi

If you need any more evidence as to why Lombardi belongs on
this list than the fact that his name is on the Super Bowl
trophy, I don’t know what to tell you. Let’s start with his
coaching bona fides – Lombardi’s head coaching career with the
Green Bay Packers lasted just nine seasons, from 1959 – 1967.
But during those nine years, his team played in the NFL
Championship game six times, winning five championship titles
along the way. After Lombardi lost the league title in 1960, he
never lost another playoff game, finishing with a postseason
record of 9-1. Vince Lombardi was a beloved coach and leader,
and his name will forever be a part of NFL history.

Don Shula

Don Shula is the greatest pure coaching talent the league has
ever seen. He was a head coach for 32 years, recording just two
losing seasons during that time. No coach has won more games
than Shula, who recorded a 68% overall winning percentage during
the 30+ years he coached. He performed the head coach role in
the Super Bowl six times, a record only recently matched by Bill
Belichick. His Dolphins recorded the league’s only perfect
season. Don Shula’s influence is still being felt, by virtue of
the spread of coaches he taught and mentored around the league.
As the first modern defensive genius, the only man to hold an
opposing team to 3 points or less in a league championship,
Shula will be remembered as long as pro football is played in
America.

Classic NFL Games

We’ve selected four classic games for this section – not
because they’re our favorite games or because they’re
traditional selections, but because we think they represent the
best the NFL has to offer in terms of single-game entertainment.
Any one of these games would be instantly recognized as a
classic by any fan of the sport.

Super Bowl LI

Super Bowl XLIX

The Hail Mary Game

The Tuck Rule Game

The Greatest Game Every Played

From the NFL Record Books

Here are some interesting records from the NFL record books.

• George Blanda played in the NFL for 26 seasons between 1949
  and 1975. He retired at the age of 48, also holding the record
  for most points scored by a single player and most extra points
  kicked.
• LaDainian Tomlinson holds the record for most points scored
  in a regular season – he was personally responsible for 186
  points for the Chargers in the year 2006. That same
  year, he set the record for most touchdowns in a single season,
  with 31. In 2011, kicker David Akers set the record for most
  points scored without a single touchdown, kicking for 166 total
  points for the 49ers.
• Matt Prater holds the record for longest field goal. The
  64-yard bomb he kicked against Tennessee in December of 2013 was
  just one yard longer than the previous record-holder.
• Aaron Rodgers currently holds the record for highest QB
  rating in a career, registering a 106.5 rating over the eleven
  years he’s been playing. He also holds the record for highest
  single-season QB rating, turning in a 122.5 for the 2011 season.
  Rodgers is also an efficient passer – he is the current
  record-holder for most consecutive pass attempts without an INT.
• Brett Favre has the dubious honor of being the QB who was
  sacked the most times. During his career, from 1991-2010, Favre
  was put on his back 525 times. At the other end of the spectrum,
  Steve Walsh, who was sacked only three times in his entire
  ten-year career.
• Antonio Cromartie holds the current record for longest single
  play for his 109-yard blocked field goal return in November,
  2007. This play bested the previous record by thirteen yards,
  and seems unlikely to ever be overturned.

Super Bowl Champions

The Super Bowl is the NFL championship game, played each year
between the two teams left standing after the league’s
postseason. The Super Bowl is the sports event of the year in
the United States – advertising is never more expensive than
during the TV broadcast of the Super Bowl.

To date, 55 Super Bowl games have been played, one per year
dating back to 1967. We’ve included a list of each Super Bowl
champion for easy reference.

I	Green Bay Packers	II	Green Bay Packers
III	New York Jets	IV	Kansas City Chiefs
V	Baltimore Colts	VI	Dallas Cowboys
VII	Miami Dolphins	VIII	Miami Dolphins
IX	Pittsburgh Steelers	X	Pittsburgh Steelers
XI	Oakland Raiders	XII	Dallas Cowboys
XIII	Pittsburgh Steelers	XIV	Pittsburgh Steelers
XV	Oakland Raiders	XVI	San Francisco 49ers
XVII	Washington Redskins	XVIII	LA Raiders
XIX	San Francisco 49ers	XX	Chicago Bears
XXI	New York Giants	XXII	Washington Redskins
XXIII	San Francisco 49ers	XXIV	San Francisco 49ers
XXV	New York Giants	XXVI	Washington Redskins
XXVII	Dallas Cowboys	XXVIII	Green Bay Packers
XXIX	San Francisco 49ers	XXX	Dallas Cowboys
XXXI	Green Bay Packers	XXXII	Denver Broncos
XXXIII	Denver Broncos	XXXIV	St.Louis Rams
XXXV	Baltimore Ravens	XXXVI	New England Patriots
XXXVII	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	XXXVIII	New England Patriots
XXXIX	New England Patriots	XL	Pittsburgh Steelers
XLI	Indianapolis Colts	XLII	New York Giants
XLIII	Pittsburgh Steelers	XLIV	New Orleans Saints
XLV	Green Bay Packers	XLVI	New York Giants
XLVII	Baltimore Ravens	XLVIII	Seattle Seahawks
XLIX	New England Patriots	50	Denver Broncos
LI	New England Patriots	LII	Philadelphia Eagles
LIII	New England Patriots	LIV	Kansas City Chiefs
LV	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	LVI	TBD

Interesting Facts About the NFL

• The Green Bay Packers’ ticket waiting list is 1,000 years
  long. Every seat in the stadium is reserved for a season ticket
  holder, and only about 100 people per year give up their seats
  to a new owner.
• A single cowhide makes ten professional footballs. The
  sixteen laces on the ball are laced with a single thread.
• The 2000 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens had a five-game
  stretch in which they didn’t score a touchdown and their only
  points were field goals by Matt Stover (14 in all).
• The Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy costs the league just
  $25,000, or about one-fourth of one league minimum salary.
• In 1988, no quarterbacks were taken in either the first or
  second round of the NFL draft, the only time in the history of
  the draft that a QB wasn’t taken at some point in the first
  round, much less the second.
• The total audience for the first televised NFL game? 500
  people … a far cry from the half a billion people who watched
  the big game last year.
• Joe Theismann changed the pronunciation of his name in
  college so it would rhyme with Heisman, hoping it would help him
  win the award. He didn’t, but he would go on to be the NFL’s
  MVP, twice.
• Of the eleven games since 1987 that involve point spreads of
  20 or more, the favorite has only covered two times.
• When no administrators or owners could agree on an alignment
  plan of the NFC after the AFL/NFL merger, Pete Rozelle’s
  secretary put the five plans in a vase and selected one at
  random. We still use this alignment to this day.
• The NFL and the Chicago Bears were incorporated and named on
  the same day, June 24, 1922.
• Sammy Baugh once led the NFL in punting, passing, and
  interceptions all in the same season.

Betting on The NFL

Betting on the NFL is big business. Millions of dollars are
wagered on games every weekend during the regular season, and
the Super Bowl is one of the single biggest betting events in
world sports. Many people who bet on the NFL do so purely
recreationally, because they enjoy backing their favorite teams
or just find that having money riding on games makes watching
them more exciting.

Others take their NFL betting much more seriously, closely
studying the form and delving into the stats to determine where
the best opportunities for profit lie. And there is merit to
this approach, as it’s possible to make very good money if you
know what you’re doing. If this sounds appealing to you, you
should take a look at our football betting guide.

Football Betting Guide

Our football betting guide is a useful resource for anyone
with an interest in betting on the NFL, or the NCAA for that
matter. It covers all the basics you need to know to get
started, and features a wealth of strategy advice that will help
you to find profitable betting opportunities.