American Football Terms | List & Definitions

American football is one of the most-watched sports in North America, with the National Football League (NFL) drawing more than 100 million viewers for the Super Bowl each year. Globally, there are a few major forms of professional football:

• NFL football in the US
• The Canadian Football League (CFL)
• Flag football, a tackle-free version with men’s and women’s teams that will debut as an Olympic sport in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles

This article focuses on NFL football. Whether you’re a new fan, a curious international viewer, or someone trying to follow the action more closely, learning football terms is the first step to understanding the game.

The football terms below explain how the game works, how teams score, and who plays what role. QuillBot’s AI Chat can also provide football facts and trivia within seconds.

Why is American football called football?

In most parts of the world, “football” means “soccer.” The term “football” has its origins in the Middle Ages, when it referred to games that people played on foot rather than horseback. Soccer and rugby football are the two main sports that evolved from these medieval European games. American football is called “football” because it originated from rugby.

How is football played? (rules for beginners)

American football is a team sport played on a rectangular field with end zones at each end. Each team has 11 players on the field at a time and takes turns playing offense or defense. The objective is to move the ball into the opposing team’s end zone to score points.

A football game begins with a kickoff, when one team kicks the ball to the other. A player on the receiving team catches the ball and tries to run it forward as far as possible. This is called a kickoff return. The play ends when that player is tackled or runs out of bounds. The spot where the player is stopped is where the receiving team’s offense begins its drive toward the other team’s end zone.

When a team has control of the ball (is on offense), it has four downs (chances) to move the ball at least 10 yards. If the team succeeds, it earns a new set of four downs. If the team fails, possession of the ball goes to the other team. Teams switch between offense and defense throughout the game based on who has the ball. There are two main types of offensive plays:

• Running plays: The quarterback hands the ball to a running back who tries to advance it by running.
• Passing plays: The quarterback throws the ball to a wide receiver or another eligible player.

The game is divided into four 15-minute quarters with a halftime break after the second quarter. When the fourth quarter ends, the team with the most points wins. If the score is tied, the game goes into overtime.

Football scoring terms explained

Teams can score points in American football in several ways:

• Touchdown (6 points): A player carries or catches the ball in the opposing team’s end zone. This is the primary way to score. A touchdown grants the team the opportunity to attempt either an extra point or a two-point conversion.

• • Extra point (1 point): After a touchdown, the scoring team earns the opportunity to kick the ball through the goalposts from close range for another point.

• • Two-point conversion (2 points): Instead of kicking after a touchdown, the team can choose to run or pass the ball into the end zone again from the 2-yard line.

• Field goal (3 points): A player kicks the ball through the goalposts during regular play, usually when the offense is unable to score a touchdown.
• Safety (2 points): The defense earns 2 points when they tackle an offensive player holding the ball in that player’s own end zone.

These plays result in a change of possession. After any scoring play, the scoring team kicks off to the other team to restart the game.

Football terms for player positions

American football teams are divided into offense, defense, and special teams units. Each group has players with specific roles designed to move the ball, stop the opponent, or handle kicks.

Because American football is a full-contact sport, players regularly collide with each other, not just to tackle the ball carrier, but also to block or defend others who may never touch the ball during a play. Linemen, for example, crash into each other on every snap, and defenders may hit with full force to stop a pass or run.

Football field terms (parts of an NFL football field)

The NFL football field has unique zones and markings that help define where and how the game is played. 

• End zone: The scoring area at each end of the field, where touchdowns happen

• Sideline: The outer boundary along the length of the field

• Goal line: The line a player must cross to score a touchdown

• Line of scrimmage: The starting point of the play, marked across the field

• Hash marks: Short lines on the field that help position the ball before plays

• Red zone: The area between the 20-yard line and the end zone, where scoring is more likely

• First down marker: A movable marker that shows how far the offense must go to reset their downs

• 50-yard line: The center of the field, often considered the midpoint of control
• Goalpost: The tall structure in the end zone used for extra points and field goals

Football gameplay terms every NFL viewer should know

Understanding the football terms below will help you follow the action from the coin toss to the final whistle. 

• Coin toss: A pregame coin flip to decide which team kicks off and which receives the ball
• Kickoff: A free kick used to start each half and to resume play after a scoring play (like a touchdown or a field goal)
• Run it back: Slang for returning a kickoff or punt to gain yardage
• Offense: The team in possession of the ball, trying to score
• Defense: The team trying to stop the offense from advancing or scoring
• Huddle: A quick team meeting between plays where the quarterback gives the next play call
• Formation: The specific arrangement of offensive or defensive players before the play starts
• Play clock: A countdown (usually 40 seconds) showing how long the offense has to start the next play
• Snap: The action that starts a play, which entails the center hiking the ball to the quarterback
• Downs: The four attempts that a team has to gain at least 10 yards before they either get another four downs (if successful) or give control of the ball to the other team (if unsuccessful)
• Yardage: The number of yards gained or lost during a play
• Drive: A sequence of plays where the offense tries to move the ball downfield and score
• Tackle: When the defender brings the ball carrier to the ground or stops their forward motion
• Out of bounds: When a ball or player touches the sidelines or area outside the field of play
• Fumble: When a player loses control of the ball while running or being tackled
• Interception: When a defensive player catches a pass meant for the offense
• Turnover: When the offense loses possession of the ball via interception or fumble
• Dead: When the play ends, usually after a tackle, going out of bounds, or an incomplete pass
• Timeout: A stoppage in play called by a coach to manage the clock or make substitutions
• Sudden death: A form of overtime where the first team to score wins the game

List of NFL team names

The NFL includes 32 football teams, which are divided into two conferences. The top team from each conference competes in the Super Bowl. 

• National Football Conference (NFC): Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
• American Football Conference (AFC): Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets

NFL events: Key moments in the football season

The NFL season is filled with major events that draw millions of fans and generate global attention. Here’s a breakdown of the most important NFL events throughout the year. 

• NFL Draft (April): A multi-day event when teams select eligible college players to join the league
• Regular Season (September–January): Sunday games (with some on Monday and Thursday nights) for 18 weeks (Each team plays 17 games.)
• NFL Kickoff Game: The official start of the season, usually featuring the previous year’s Super Bowl champion
• Thanksgiving Day games: A long-standing tradition where several teams play on national television during the US holiday
• Playoffs (January): Single-elimination tournament for the top 14 teams to determine who advances to the Super Bowl
• Super Bowl (February): The championship game and biggest US sporting event

Frequently asked questions about football terms

What are some slang football terms?

Some slang football terms (for North American football) include:

• Audible: When a quarterback spontaneously uses a play that was different from the original plan
• Gridiron: The football field
• Flea flicker: A trick play where the quarterback hands off the ball to a running back, who throws it back to the quarterback
• Hail Mary: A last-minute attempt to get a touchdown with a long pass, an outcome that is unlikely but the team’s only chance to win
• Icing the kicker: Calling a timeout at the moment when the kicker is about to take an important kick
• Pigskin: The football

When you’re curious about football terms, QuillBot’s AI Chat can provide fascinating facts within seconds.

What are some fantasy football terms?

Fantasy football is a game where each person creates a fantasy team with real NFL players (from different teams) and earns points based on each player’s performance in real NFL games. Some of the most important fantasy football terms are: 

• Bust: A player who performs significantly worse than expected (based on their statistics)
• Ceiling: The best a player can perform based on statistics
• Floor: The minimum performance you can expect from a player
• Sleeper: A player who performs better than expected
• Stud: A consistently great football player

Have you tried QuillBot’s AI Chat for questions about sports? It can share fascinating sports trivia, and it’s completely free to use.

What are some football betting terms?

Football betting involves predicting the outcome of games and placing wagers based on odds set by sportsbooks. Football betting terms include:

• Moneyline: A straight-up bet on which team will win the game
• Over/under: A bet on whether the total number of points scored by both teams will be over or under a certain number
• Parlay: A single bet that links multiple wagers together, in which all selections must win for the bet to pay out
• Prop bet (proposition bet): A bet on specific events within a game, such as a player scoring a touchdown, total passing yards, or even the result of the coin toss
• Futures: Long-term bets placed on events that will happen later in the season, like who will win the Super Bowl or MVP award

QuillBot’s AI Chat can provide instant answers to questions about football betting or football terms.

What are some common sports idioms?

Some of the most common sports idioms in English include:

• Down-and-out (boxing): Physically or financially weakened like a boxer who has been knocked down and is unconscious
• Drop the ball (baseball, rugby, American football): To forget to do something or miss an opportunity
• Gambit (boxing and chess): A calculated move
• Get the ball rolling (various ball games): To start an activity
• Hands down (horse racing): Unquestionably
• Have (someone) in your corner (boxing): To have someone’s support or help
• Hit below the belt (boxing): To criticize another person in an unfair or unethical way
• Keep your eye on the ball (baseball): Stay alert
• Mulligan (golf): A do-over
• On the ball (baseball): Alert and proactive
• Par for the course (golf): Normal or expected
• Roll with the punches (boxing): To gracefully triumph over any challenges that come along
• Saved by the bell (boxing): To get out of a difficult situation because of a timely interruption
• Slam dunk (basketball): A certain win or guaranteed success

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