Getting to know NFL
Where to learn about NFL before you watch: the rules and the format, the history, how teams play and the numbers. 14 links, 3 of them spoiler-free, and every club's own site and history below.
Every link says what it may show before you click: spoiler-free never shows a result; may show results has tables, scores, highlights or post-match analysis somewhere on it; paywalled needs a subscription. Nobody pays to be listed.
The league's own site
- NFL may show resultsThe league's own site: schedule, scores, standings and news. Suits the neutral grazer and the story follower.
Rules and format
- American football rules spoiler-freeWikipedia's overview of downs, scoring, penalties and how college and NFL rules differ. Suits the rules specialist.
- NFL rulebook spoiler-freeThe official rules and this season's changes, from NFL Football Operations. Suits the rules specialist.
- 2026 NFL season may show resultsThe season's schedule format and playoff rules; the standings show results. Suits the rules specialist and the story follower.
History
- Pro Football Hall of Fame spoiler-freeThe game's history and its enshrined players and coaches. Suits the story follower.
- NFL Films may show results videoDocumentaries and classic games from the league's film studio. Suits the story follower and those here for the hits.
- NFL history may show resultsWikipedia: the league since 1920, the merger, the Super Bowl. Suits the story follower.
- NFL rivalries may show resultsWikipedia's list of rivalries and how each began. Suits the story follower.
- Pro Football Reference may show resultsEvery season, team and player in NFL history. Suits the numbers person and the story follower.
Tactics and analysis
- Brett Kollmann may show results videoFilm breakdowns of schemes and players. Suits the tactics reader.
- The Athletic: NFL may show results paywalledTeam reporting, scheme analysis and features. Suits the tactics reader and the story follower.
Numbers
- Next Gen Stats may show resultsPlayer-tracking stats: speed, separation, completion probability. Suits the numbers person.
- rbsdm.com may show resultsExpected points added and success rate by team and quarterback. Suits the numbers person.
Highlights
- NFL on YouTube may show results videoHighlights and features; highlights show results. Suits those here for the hits, the drama chaser and the neutral grazer.
The clubsboth kinds of link may show results
Missing something, or a link that spoils more than it says? [email protected]. The list is kept by hand and every link is checked once a month.