The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league comprised of 32 teams divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, the NFL developed the model for successful modern sports leagues, marked by national and international distribution, extensive revenue sharing, competitive excellence, and strong franchises. The league is structured with a hierarchical organization that balances centralized authority with individual team autonomy. The NFL's headquarters are in New York City, with additional offices across the nation and internationally.
The NFL is the wealthiest professional sports league globally by revenue. Revenue streams include broadcasting deals, digital broadcasting, sponsorships, merchandising, and ticket sales. In 2024, the NFL reportedly generated over US$23 billion in revenue. The league's organizational structure involves team owners, a players' union, and league executives, with Commissioner Roger Goodell at the helm. The Commissioner has broad authority to manage league affairs, protect the integrity of the game, and resolve disputes. Recent news includes the Seahawks exploiting a "tell" from the Patriots to win Super Bowl 60 and the Raiders hiring Klint Kubiak as head coach.
