If you’re like us, then you’re also excited that NFL training camps are starting up again in July. For football fans, it’s the best time of the year. It means that soon we’ll be seeing our favorite teams going head-to-head in a brand-new season. To prepare you for the upcoming 2023-2024 season, it’s time to think about what makes this sport so great with these 13 facts you didn’t know about the NFL.
You may think you know everything there is to know about the sport, but there’s a lot that may surprise you. For instance, did you know that you won’t live long enough to ever get season tickets for the Green Bay Packers? How about the fact that an NFL commissioner once had a heart attack while watching a game? Do you know how much the Dallas Cowboys are worth or how much it costs to air a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl these days? We’ll tell you all of that plus more about the oldest teams, when the players started wearing uniforms, and more.
To learn the facts you didn’t know about the NFL, 24/7 Tempo scoured many different sports sites around the web. We checked out Bleacher Report, Clutch Points, NFL.com, and more. We also checked out the team website for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and others. We think this is a fun list that will prepare you for the upcoming season. If you want to learn even more interesting facts about the sport, check out this list of the 14 most embarrassing football seasons in NFL history.
The Longest Field Goal
One thing you likely didn’t know about the NFL is the amazing level of talent of many of the field goal kickers in the league. While it’s amazing how many field goals are missed during a season, there have also been some incredible kicks. For many years, Tom Dempsey held the record for longest field goal with a 63-yard kick. Then, years later, Matt Prater broke that record with a 64-yard field goal. Finally, in 2021, kicker Justin Tucker made a 66-yard field goal. That’s basically half of the field, and it’s a record that may never be broken.
Origins of the Super Bowl
While most people living today know the final game of the year as the “Super Bowl,” it didn’t start that way. In fact, from the time the game started until 1967, it was officially called the “AFL-NFL World Championship Game.” It was Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt who nicknamed it the Super Bowl and the name stuck. The first Super Bowl took place that year with a challenge of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers, and it took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Packers won that first Super Bowl.
You’ll Never Get Season Tickets for the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have been around since near the beginning of the NFL, and they are easily one of the most beloved franchises in all of sports. The team has had many incredible quarterbacks and famous players over the years, and the fans can’t get enough. In fact, the team is so popular that if you wanted to get on the waiting list to become a season ticket holder, you would need to wait 1,000 years. While you can still see a game, getting season tickets is likely not going to happen.
Several Undefeated Seasons
Many people believe that it was only the 1972 Miami Dolphins that had a perfect season. However, the thing many people don’t know about the NFL is that three other teams also had perfect seasons, at least leading up to the postseason. The 2007 New England Patriots and both the 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears also had perfect regular seasons. They just fell apart in the postseason. The Dolphins are the only team to win all regular season and postseason games and to also win the Super Bowl.
Players Have to Wear Uniforms On and Off the Field
One thing you likely didn’t know about the NFL is that the players are constantly scrutinized for their attire. Of course, when they’re on the field, they must wear their uniforms, and when they’re playing, they must wear their helmets. However, there is also a dress code off of the field. Whenever the players travel or attend team meetings or press conferences, they’re supposed to wear slacks and collared shirts. The idea is to maintain professionalism and the league’s image.
Origin of Uniforms and Helmets
For many years after the NFL was created, the players didn’t wear a fraction of what they wear today. Back then, their outfits were closer to baseball uniforms then the hefty gear we see today. In the 1930s and 1940s, the logos and the colors that we’re used to today were added. Like in various other sports, the importance of helmets was misunderstood for many years. It wasn’t until 1943 that the NFL began to start mandating helmets. Even then, they weren’t half as protective as they are today.
An NFL Commissioner Died on the Field
One thing we bet you didn’t know about the NFL is that the second NFL commissioner passed away while watching an NFL game. His name was DeBenneville “Bert” Bell, and he implemented many of the changes that make the NFL as entertaining as it is today. During a game in 1959 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles (two teams he founded), Bell had a heart attack as the Eagles scored a touchdown. Some believe it was the heart attack that distracted the defense, which helped the Eagles to score.
Most Valuable Team
The most valuable and profitable team in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. During the 2023 season, the team generated an amazing $1.14 billion in revenue and they achieved a $9 billion valuation. That’s a huge amount of cash, especially considering that in 2022, the entire NFL earned $11 billion in revenue.
Two Teams Won by an Amazing Margin
A fact you likely didn’t know about the NFL is that two teams completely blew out their competition 59-0. The first time it happened was when the LA Rams beat the Atlanta Falcons in 1976. It happened again in 2009 when the New England Patriots beat the Tennessee Titans 59-0. Both occasions were very embarrassing for the losing teams. Oddly enough, 59-0 is the highest point margin in NFL history. There’s just something about that number.
It Costs $7 Million Per Super Bowl Commercial
The 2023 Super Bowl was a costly endeavor, especially for the advertisers who wanted to get their products, websites, and movie trailers into the viewer’s living rooms. Remember when it was big news that a commercial cost one million dollars? Well, in 2023, the cost of a 30-second Super Bowl commercial was $7 million. The price has risen steadily over the last several years. During the Super Bowl in 2011, the cost per commercial was just over 3 million dollars. That price tag means that only major companies can advertise their products during this 3-hour game.
The Oldest Teams
The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are amongst the oldest teams in the NFL. The Packers are the oldest team to keep the same name since their foundation in 1919. Since 1920, the Packers have a whopping 791 regular season wins. With that said, the very oldest team is the Arizona Cardinals. They were technically created back in 1898 under the name of the Morgan Athletic Club. After that time, the team went under many other names, including the Racine Normals, the Chicago Cardinals, and the St. Louis Cardinals. They have been the Arizona Cardinals since 1994.
Four Teams Have Never Been to the Super Bowl
Of the current roster, there are still four teams that have yet to get to the Super Bowl as we know it today. The teams include the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. To be fair, the Browns and the Lions both won NFL titles, but it was before the NFL merger. They have never technically been contenders in the Super Bowl. Also, the Texans are the newest team. They entered the league in 1999, so they haven’t had as many chances. Technically, 10 of the current NFL teams have never won the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady Really is the GOAT
Whether he’s playing or retired, there are always discussions about whether or not Tom Brady is really the best of all time. His accolades say he is. In addition to his seven Super Bowl wins with two different teams, Brady also has the highest winning percentage as a quarterback. He also has the most regular season wins, and the most career playoff wins. He has the most regular-season touchdowns and an incredible passing record of 7,753 out of 12,050. There are many reasons why Tom Brady is one of the best athletes ever to play football.