FOOTBALL

This Year's Puppy Bowl Will Feature Three Dogs With Disabilities

Get to know Lucky, Doobert, and Winston.

15 Things You Might Not Know About Pro Football

Television coverage of games can last hours, but the ball can actually be in play for as little as 11 minutes in a given game.

15 Facts About Football’s Early Days

Though what would become known as the NFL was formed on August 20, 1920, the roots of American-style football date back well over a century.

The Game Behind the Game: What Pro Football Is Really Like

Presented by Adam Ruins Everything.

The Only Recording of Super Bowl I Is Collecting Dust in Storage

According to the owner, the NFL refuses to buy it.

This Football Helmet of the Future Is Designed to Crumple

The design of the Zero1 was inspired by the crumple zones and bumpers used in automotive engineering.

Why Is Alabama's Mascot an Elephant?

There are no elephants in Alabama. What gives?

Where Do Heisman Winners Keep Their Trophies?

Spoiler: Some trophies end up in closets or at the homes of the players' parents.

Athletic Support: A History of Sports Agents

Professional football players once made $100 a game. When "Red" Grange's agent was done, Grange walked off with $100,000.

The Origin of the Sports Illustrated Football Phone

In the 1990s, the magazine industry was having some issues. 'People' suffered a five percent drop in circulation in the first half of 1990; 'Sports Illustrated' dropped by seven percent that same year.

50 Years of Monday Night Football's Memorable Theme Music

Are you ready for some football? How about a trip down musical memory lane to rediscover the many Monday Night Football theme songs?

Are You Ready for Some … Grammar? Fans of This Pro Football Team Are the Most Typo-Prone

It turns out you can learn a lot by analyzing the comments section of the nearest sports blog.

The Humble Early Days of the NFL Draft

The NFL Draft wasn't always the overblown football bacchanal it is today.

A Deaf Football Team Invented the Huddle—Then Stopped Using It

In the 1890s, Paul D. Hubbard—the Deaf quarterback for Gallaudet University's football team—had his offense form a tight circle so that they could discuss plays without the other team seeing what they were signing

After Pearl Harbor, the Rose Bowl Relocated to North Carolina

In 1942, the Rose Bowl game between Oregon State and Duke was transferred from California to North Carolina in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Here’s a brief look back at one of the greatest upsets in Rose Bowl history.

The Top 10 Moments of 2013... in Play-Doh

To celebrate 2013, Play-Doh chose ten attention-grabbing headlines and trends from the year and sculpted them out of 100 percent Play-Doh. Just in case you wanted to relive your kindergarten arts and crafts class (and you know you do), here they are.

Why Do Athletes Slap Each Others’ Butts?

Unfortunately, the first athlete to playfully slap a teammate on the butt didn’t record his reasoning for history, but it’s become common practice among professionals and amateurs alike, and many have their own take on it.

Brain Game: The 'Big' Game

Super Bowl Sunday is nearly upon us. If you choose to party, have plenty of fun, but please do so safely. Start off the weekend right by solving today's mentalfloss.com Brain Game Free-for-All Friday challenge. Good luck! Except for one letter that's dif

Brain Game: Players in the House

NOTE: Okay, I wrote a clunker. My apologies. This Brain Game was altered from its original text after readers discovered some exceptions to the NFL's rules, particularly amongst linebackers and linemen. (I knew there were a few, but also assumed that most

Root (or boot) all 32 NFL teams

Coming Thursday: Woody's Winners for Week 1! In the meantime, mental_floss has your football fix right here. Even if you're not an NFL fan, now that the new season is almost upon us, someone, somewhere will ask you your opinion about a team or two. We've