Professional gridiron football

In the United States and Canada, professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. It usually means the major football leagues in these countries. Today, there are several professional football leagues in North America. The two oldest leagues are the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, and the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Canada.

Teams during the 104th Grey Cup in 2016, the championship game of the Canadian Football League

American football leagues have also existed in Europe since the late 1970s. Countries like Austria and Germany have strong leagues, and Japan has a long-standing league called the X-League. The NFL has been around since 1922 and continues to grow.

The best players in American football are some of the highest paid athletes in the world, with salaries reaching tens of millions of dollars each year. These players are known for their skill, teamwork, and dedication to the sport.

Organization

Compared to other big sports leagues in the United States and Canada, football has fewer levels of play and does not have a well-developed minor league system.

The top level of professional football in North America is the National Football League, with the Canadian Football League being second in importance and pay. Even though players earn less in the CFL, it is more popular in Canada because it has been there a long time, the NFL does not play many games in Canada, and Canada likes to support its own sports.

Indoor football also developed in the United States, starting with the Arena Football League in 1987. While it is the second oldest professional football league in the U.S. after the NFL, it stopped for a while and then started again as a different league. For many years, the Arena Football League was the only one allowed to play indoor football because of special rules it owned. But in 1997, another league won a court case and other indoor leagues were allowed to start. Today, there are several indoor football leagues in the United States, but none in Canada.

Player development

Professional football is the highest level of competition for this sport. Most players in the NFL come straight from college football, where they are often given scholarships to help pay for school. Players usually need to wait three years after finishing high school before they can join the NFL. This means they are older and more ready when they start as professionals compared to players in other sports.

The Canadian Football League requires that at least half of each team’s players be Canadian citizens. The other half can be Canadians or players from other countries, usually from the United States. The NFL has sometimes brought in players from other sports like rugby or soccer, mostly to be kickers or punters.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting is very important in professional football. It helps more people watch the games who are not at the stadium and brings in money through special fees.

The NFL gets almost half of its money from TV broadcasts. This is because they only play one game each week, so they can't sell as many tickets as other sports. The NFL sells the right to show its games to big TV networks, who pay a lot of money each year. These networks earn their money back through ads and special fees from viewers.

In Canada, the CFL has an agreement with TSN, a cable and satellite service, to show all its games. This started in 2008. Before that, like the NFL, the CFL shared its games with different providers.

Other leagues have had a hard time getting TV coverage in the United States. Some had to pay for TV time instead of getting paid, which made it difficult for them to succeed. Most professional football teams also broadcast some of their games on local radio.

Rules

The rules of professional football can change a lot between different leagues. Unlike high school and college football, each professional league can decide its own rules since they rarely play against each other. For example, the Arena Football League used special rules until 2007. While most rules in outdoor professional football are similar to high school and college rules, there are small differences, like where the hash marks are placed, how overtime works, and how many feet need to touch the ground to catch a forward pass. Indoor football has rules that are changed to fit the smaller playing field.

American professional football history

The first professional football player

Professional football began as amateur club football, played by athletic clubs or associations in the late 1870s. These clubs were an alternative to more popular college football, and some would even play against college teams. Over time, some amateur teams started secretly paying players to cover expenses, leading to the creation of semi-pro teams in 1890.

The first known payment to a player happened in 1892 when Pudge Heffelfinger was paid to play for a game. Other players followed, and soon teams began paying players openly. The first fully professional club was formed in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and by the late 1890s, a group of teams in Western Pennsylvania acted as the main professional circuit in the United States.

Early leagues: 1902–1919

As college and professional football began to separate, new leagues formed. The first all-professional league started in 1902, supported by baseball teams. However, it didn’t last long. Professional football then moved to Ohio, where teams played on Sundays to avoid college games. Scandals and financial issues led to the decline of these early leagues.

American Professional Football Association: 1920–1921

In 1920, teams from Ohio formed the American Professional Football Conference, which later became the American Professional Football Association. The league expanded and held its first showcase game in New York City. The Akron Pros were the best team in 1920, and the Chicago Staleys won in 1921.

National Football League: 1922–1932

In 1922, the league changed its name to the National Football League. It faced confusion over championships and schedules. Teams played different numbers of games, and some played against college teams. The league saw teams come and go, with smaller cities losing interest and larger cities like Boston, New York, and Philadelphia keeping teams.

First American Football League: 1926

In 1926, a new league, the American Football League, formed to compete with the NFL. It included teams from cities like New York and Chicago. The league folded after one year, with some teams joining the NFL.

National Football League: 1933–1945

The NFL reorganized into divisions and started a championship game in 1933. It introduced the draft in 1936 to assign college players to teams. The league was dominated by teams like the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants. During World War II, the league faced challenges but continued to play.

Second American Football League: 1936–1937

Another American Football League formed in 1936, including teams like the New York Yankees and Cleveland Rams. The Rams later joined the NFL, and the league folded after the 1937 season.

Third American Football League: 1940–1941

A third attempt at an American Football League happened in 1940, but it didn’t last long due to World War II. Another league, the Pacific Coast Professional Football League, started on the West Coast and lasted until 1948.

All-America Football Conference: 1946–1949

After World War II, the All-America Football Conference formed and challenged the NFL. It featured teams like the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. The league merged with the NFL in 1949, with only a few teams joining the NFL.

National Football League: 1946–1959

The NFL added black players in 1946 and expanded its schedule. It faced challenges like labor stoppages and lawsuits but continued to grow. Television coverage began in the 1950s, helping the league’s popularity.

Fourth American Football League: 1960–1969

In the 1960s, the American Football League formed to compete with the NFL. It introduced innovations like player names on jerseys and a double round-robin schedule. The AFL and NFL eventually merged, leading to the creation of the Super Bowl.

National Football League: 1960–1969

The NFL responded to the AFL by expanding and moving teams. It added teams in new cities and faced competition from the AFL. The NFL and AFL merger was agreed upon in 1966, with a championship game between the leagues.

Minor Leagues: 1961–1973

During this time, several minor leagues operated alongside the NFL and AFL. These included the United Football League, Atlantic Coast Football League, and Continental Football League. They provided opportunities for players to develop and sometimes move to the major leagues.

National Football League: 1970–1975

In 1970, the NFL and AFL merged, creating two conferences. The NFL adopted some AFL rules, like the scoreboard clock and player names on jerseys. A new weekly game, Monday Night Football, began in 1970.

National Football League: 1976–1994

The NFL added teams in Seattle and Tampa Bay in 1976. The schedule expanded to 16 games, and the playoff field grew. The league faced labor issues and legal challenges but continued to expand, adding teams in new markets.

United States Football League: 1983–1985

The United States Football League formed in the 1980s to compete with the NFL by playing in the spring. It attracted top talent but faced financial problems and folded after a lawsuit against the NFL.

Arena Football League: 1987–2019

The Arena Football League started in 1987, featuring a shorter field and high-scoring games. It operated for many years but faced financial difficulties and folded in 2019.

National Football League: 1995–2001

The NFL expanded into new markets, adding teams in Jacksonville and Carolina. It revived a minor league in Europe and faced challenges with team relocations. Television contracts brought in huge revenue for the league.

National Football League: 2002–present

The Houston Texans joined the NFL in 2002, bringing the league to 32 teams. The league expanded its international presence with games in London and Mexico City. It launched its own network and saw significant growth in television revenue.

Alternate leagues: 2009–2015, 2019–future

Several alternate leagues tried to compete with the NFL, including the United Football League and the Alliance of American Football. These leagues faced financial issues and folded, but some, like the XFL, have tried to restart. The United States Football League returned in 2022.

#	NFL team	2018	2019	2022	2023	2024
1	Arizona Cardinals	62,013	61,323	65,203	62,864	63,975
2	Atlanta Falcons	72,898	71,601	69,583	69,603	71,381
3	Baltimore Ravens	70,431	70,627	70,589	70,597	71,052
4	Buffalo Bills	64,961	68,839	68,431	69,609	70,695
5	Carolina Panthers	73,772	72,220	71,351	71,635	70,612
6	Chicago Bears	61,815	61,916	59,823	61,769	58,649
7	Cincinnati Bengals	50,753	47,179	66,247	66,040	66,294
8	Cleveland Browns	65,765	67,431	67,431	67,810	67,726
9	Dallas Cowboys¹	91,619	90,929	93,465	93,594	92,972
10	Denver Broncos	76,446	75,937	75,980	76,388	73,969
11	Detroit Lions	62,795	61,342	63,423	64,850	64,922
12	Green Bay Packers	77,834	77,845	76,180	77,829	78,003
13	Houston Texans	71,804	71,793	67,911	71,193	71,333
14	Indianapolis Colts	59,199	61,110	65,559	65,230	65,767
15	Jacksonville Jaguars	66,674	63,085	66,459	69,031	65,764
16	Kansas City Chiefs	75,972	73,465	73,499	70,968	73,593
17	Las Vegas Raiders	57,919	52,549	62,045	62,190	62,175
18	Los Angeles Chargers	32,768	31,750	69,955	69,736	69,966
19	Los Angeles Rams	72,429	71,229	72,734	73,150	73,194
20	Miami Dolphins	65,560	63,067	66,230	65,922	65,643
21	Minnesota Vikings	66,811	66,849	66,687	66,913	66,286
22	New England Patriots	65,878	65,753	65,878	63,018	64,634
23	New Orleans Saints	73,051	73,082	68,987	70,020	70,012
24	New York Giants	76,940	74,664	76,474	79,307	78,470
25	New York Jets	77,982	78,523	78,009	77,890	78,789
26	Philadelphia Eagles	69,696	69,783	69,869	69,878	69,879
27	Pittsburgh Steelers	63,456	62,237	66,280	66,977	66,880
28	San Francisco 49ers	69,148	70,305	71,629	71,655	71,422
29	Seattle Seahawks	69,001	68,990	68,832	68,735	68,660
30	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	54,356	51,898	68,988	63,756	63,689
31	Tennessee Titans	64,520	64,509	68,616	64,520	64,819
32	Washington Commanders	61,028	65,488	58,106	63,950	63,428

Canadian professional football history

Canadian football developed in a similar way to American football. Some Canadian teams are older than the oldest American teams because they started as amateur rugby teams. The Canadian game changed over time but was always a bit behind the American game. For example, the forward pass was allowed in the United States in 1906 but not in Canada until 1929. The touchdown was worth five points in Canada until 1956, while it became six points in the United States in 1912.

Before the 1950s, Canadian football was mostly played by amateur teams. In 1954, two big groups of teams turned professional, and this marked the start of modern Canadian professional football. These groups later merged to form the Canadian Football League (CFL). The CFL looks back to 1958 as its beginning year.

The CFL tried to expand into the United States in the early 1990s but faced many problems and stopped after just two years.

The teams in Ottawa and Montréal have gone through many changes over the years. The league has stayed mostly the same with teams in the same cities for a long time. There have been discussions about adding a team in the maritime provinces, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Canada has not had many rival leagues like the NFL faced. Efforts to bring other leagues to Canada were stopped by threats from Canadian Parliament.

Professional football has never been played in Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador.

CFL attendances

The average home attendances in the CFL:

#	CFL team	2022
1	Winnipeg Blue Bombers	27,600
2	Saskatchewan Roughriders	26,179
3	Edmonton Elks	23,052
4	Calgary Stampeders	22,813
5	Hamilton Tiger-Cats	21,461
6	Ottawa REDBLACKS	21,076
7	BC Lions	19,936
8	Montreal Alouettes	16,416
9	Toronto Argonauts	11,018

European professional football history

The European League of Football is a professional American football league in Europe. It started in 2021 and uses some old team names and logos from NFL Europe. Teams play in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

ELF attendances

The average home attendances in the ELF:

#	ELF team	2024
1	Rhein Fire	11,392
2	Hamburg Sea Devils	9,277
3	Frankfurt Galaxy	7,098
4	Panthers Wrocław	5,992
5	Vienna Vikings	5,366
6	Munich Ravens	5,036
7	Stuttgart Surge	4,251
8	Berlin Thunder	3,456
9	Paris Musketeers	3,454
10	Raiders Tirol	3,370
11	Cologne Centurions	2,735
12	Fehérvár Enthroners	1,550
13	Madrid Bravos	1,393
14	Helvetic Mercenaries	1,028
15	Barcelona Dragons	921
16	Milano Seamen	740
17	Prague Lions	638

Injuries

A study from 2017 looked at the brains of football players who had passed away. It found that many players from different levels of the sport had a condition called CTE in their brains. Most of the players from the NFL and college football had it, while fewer from the CFL, semi-professional teams, and high school football did.

Besides this, players often hurt their legs, arms, and lower backs while playing.