Funny Football Facts

1) The NFL was formed at a car dealership in Canton, Ohio in 1920. It seems appropriate … lots of unreliable old bangers being bought and sold for way too much money!

2) In the 1980’s the USFL filed a lawsuit again the NFL, claiming it was an illegal monopoly. The USFL won the case and were awarded $3.76 in damages. That’s not a misprint; the cheque for three dollars and seventy-six cents has still not been cashed. Maybe the USFL felt that the reward for winning a 42 day court case should be a little more than the price of a hotdog!

3) The Colts were the first professional football team to have cheerleaders. Thanks Colts, now that is a part of the game that everyone likes to watch! For the dancing of course. I just love the dancing.

4) The Super Bowl was named after a child’s bouncing ball. Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamer Hunt accidentally referred to the final game by this name after his daughter had been throwing a bouncing ‘Super Ball’ over the roof of their house. The name stuck and was officially changed a few years later. My dad would have just thrown the stupid ball in the garbage and told me I was grounded.

5) Minnesota Vikings player Jim Marshall thought his glory day had come. With his team ten points clear he found some space and sprinted a huge 60 yards up the pitch. As he looked around to bask in the glory of the fans just before completing a legendary touchdown he realized that they didn’t look as happy as they should. He had run the wrong way up the pitch and given away 2 points to the opposition. Doofus.

6) Apparently football developed from a game called ‘Futballe’ that was invented by Danish invaders in England in the 11th century. If they found a skull on the beach from the invasion, they would have a bit of a kick-around and make a game out of it. Slightly more edgy than the fun leisure activity we know today … especially when your buddy Henrik throws a rotting skull at you and you get a bit of brain splash-back!

7) There is no remaining network footage of Super Bowl I. One rumor suggests that someone recorded over it with their favorite soap opera. “Oh not that episode again I’ve seen it already, lets watch the historic footage of the first ever super bowl. Doh!

8) Running back Hershal Walker recently revealed that he has played Russian Roulette a number of times. Well, nobody ever said you need to have brains to be a professional football player. IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN BLOW THEM OUT THOUGH.

9) Quarterback Len Dawson of the Chiefs holds the record for the most fumbles in one game (7). Sorry Len reading this must be a nasty surprise … try not to drop your laptop!

10) As a tradition, NFL player Corey Sears eats a whole lemon before each game. Cory, did the other guys tell you it was a club tradition? Have you ever seen any of them do it? Didn’t think so.

We hope you enjoyed those? Please feel free to browse around the rest of the site where we have many more cool facts for you to enjoy!