I’ve always been a huge football fan, and there’s nothing I love more than testing my knowledge (and my friends’) with some great trivia questions. Whether you’re gearing up for game day, planning a football-themed party, or just want to see how much you really know about the sport, I’ve got you covered with over 100 football trivia questions and answers.
My family has this tradition where we gather for every Super Bowl and quiz each other during commercial breaks. It started as a joke when my brother claimed he knew “everything” about football – needless to say, these questions humbled him pretty quickly!
NFL Teams and History
Let’s start with some classic NFL questions. These range from easy ones that any casual fan should know to some trickier ones that might stump even the die-hards.
- Q: Which team has won the most Super Bowl titles?
A: New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied with 6 Super Bowl wins each - Q: What year was the NFL founded?
A: 1920 - Q: Which team was the first to go undefeated in a regular season?
A: Miami Dolphins (1972) - Q: How many teams are currently in the NFL?
A: 32 teams - Q: Which team is known as “America’s Team”?
A: Dallas Cowboys - Q: What are the three teams that have never made it to a Super Bowl?
A: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Houston Texans - Q: Which city hosted the first NFL championship game?
A: Chicago (1933) - Q: What team was originally called the Oilers?
A: Tennessee Titans - Q: Which NFL team has a lightning bolt on their helmet?
A: Los Angeles Chargers - Q: What year did the NFL and AFL merge?
A: 1970 - Q: Which team has the longest championship drought in the NFL?
A: Cleveland Browns (last won in 1964, before the Super Bowl era) - Q: What was the last team to join the NFL?
A: Houston Texans (2002) - Q: Which team plays at Fenway Park for some games?
A: None (this is a trick question – all NFL teams have their own stadiums) - Q: What city did the Rams play in before moving to Los Angeles?
A: St. Louis - Q: Which team won the very first Super Bowl?
A: Green Bay Packers - Q: What is the oldest team in the NFL?
A: Arizona Cardinals (founded in 1898) - Q: Which team has retired the most jersey numbers?
A: Boston/Washington Redskins (now Commanders) - Q: What team won the most NFL championships before the Super Bowl era?
A: Green Bay Packers (9 championships) - Q: Which team is nicknamed “The G-Men”?
A: New York Giants - Q: What team did John Madden coach to a Super Bowl victory?
A: Oakland Raiders
Learn more about classic questions to ask your best friends during game day gatherings.
Super Bowl Trivia
The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of football, and these questions cover everything from memorable moments to halftime shows. I remember watching my first Super Bowl as a kid – it was Patriots vs. Rams in 2002, and I was hooked from that moment on.
- Q: Which Super Bowl had the longest halftime show?
A: Super Bowl XXXVI (19 minutes) - Q: Who was the MVP of the most recent Super Bowl?
A: Patrick Mahomes (Super Bowl LVII) - Q: What’s the largest margin of victory in Super Bowl history?
A: 45 points (49ers beat Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV) - Q: Which team has appeared in the most Super Bowls?
A: New England Patriots (11 appearances) - Q: Who is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl?
A: Ben Roethlisberger (23 years old) - Q: Which Super Bowl is known as the “Helmet Catch” game?
A: Super Bowl XLII (Giants vs. Patriots) - Q: What was the first Super Bowl to go into overtime?
A: Super Bowl LI (Patriots vs. Falcons) - Q: Who performed at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show?
A: Diana Ross - Q: Which city has never hosted a Super Bowl?
A: Green Bay (among others – this is a bit of a trick question) - Q: What’s the lowest-scoring Super Bowl?
A: Super Bowl III (Jets beat Colts 16-7) - Q: Who is the only player to win Super Bowl MVP from the losing team?
A: Chuck Howley (Cowboys, Super Bowl V) - Q: Which Super Bowl featured the famous “Wardrobe Malfunction”?
A: Super Bowl XXXVIII (2004) - Q: What was the first Super Bowl played at night?
A: Super Bowl XIX - Q: Who scored the fastest touchdown in Super Bowl history?
A: Devin Hester (14 seconds, Super Bowl XLI) - Q: Which Super Bowl had the most combined points?
A: Super Bowl XXIX (75 points total) - Q: Who is the only head coach to win Super Bowls with two different teams?
A: Dick Vermeil (Rams) and Dino Babers (Salute, trick question – only Dick Vermeil has won one Super Bowl) - Q: What was the cost of a 30-second commercial during the first Super Bowl?
A: $37,500 - Q: Which state has hosted the most Super Bowls?
A: Florida - Q: Who kicked the longest field goal in Super Bowl history?
A: Steve Christie (54 yards) - Q: Which Super Bowl featured the famous “Left Shark”?
A: Super Bowl XLIX
Check out these funny ways to say congratulations for when your team wins the big game!
Famous Players and Records
These questions cover the legends of the game – from old-school heroes to modern-day superstars. My uncle still argues that Walter Payton was the greatest running back of all time, and honestly, he makes some pretty good points.
- Q: Who holds the NFL record for most career touchdown passes?
A: Tom Brady (649) - Q: Which player is known as “The GOAT”?
A: Tom Brady - Q: Who rushed for 2,000 yards in a 14-game season?
A: O.J. Simpson (1973) - Q: Which player is nicknamed “Sweetness”?
A: Walter Payton - Q: Who has the most career rushing yards in NFL history?
A: Emmitt Smith (18,355) - Q: Which wide receiver has the most career receptions?
A: Jerry Rice (1,549) - Q: Who is the all-time leader in quarterback wins?
A: Tom Brady (243) - Q: Which defensive player has the most career sacks?
A: Bruce Smith (200) - Q: Who kicked the most field goals in NFL history?
A: Adam Vinatieri (599) - Q: Which player has appeared in the most Pro Bowls?
A: Tom Brady and Merlin Olsen (14) - Q: Who holds the single-season rushing record?
A: Eric Dickerson (2,105 yards) - Q: Which quarterback threw for 5,477 yards in 2013?
A: Peyton Manning - Q: Who is the youngest player to reach 10,000 career rushing yards?
A: Adrian Peterson - Q: Which player intercepted the most passes in a single season?
A: Night Train Lane (14 interceptions) - Q: Who is known as “Prime Time”?
A: Deion Sanders - Q: Which player scored the most points in a single game?
A: Ernie Nevers (40 points) - Q: Who has the most career Super Bowl MVP awards?
A: Joe Montana (3) - Q: Which running back is nicknamed “Beast Mode”?
A: Marshawn Lynch - Q: Who holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass?
A: Drew Brees (54 games) - Q: Which player has the most career interceptions?
A: Paul Krause (81)
For more interesting questions to ask a guy during commercial breaks!
Rules and Gameplay
Even if you’ve been watching football for years, some of these rules questions might surprise you. I’ve been playing fantasy football for a decade, and I still learn new rules every season.
- Q: How many points is a safety worth?
A: 2 points - Q: How long is an NFL game?
A: 60 minutes (four 15-minute quarters) - Q: How many players are on the field for each team?
A: 11 players - Q: What’s the maximum number of players on an NFL roster?
A: 53 players - Q: How many timeouts does each team get per half?
A: 3 timeouts - Q: What’s the distance for a first down?
A: 10 yards - Q: How many points is a field goal worth?
A: 3 points - Q: What happens if a kickoff goes out of bounds?
A: The receiving team gets the ball at their 40-yard line - Q: How many officials are on the field during an NFL game?
A: 7 officials - Q: What’s the penalty for pass interference?
A: Spot foul (ball placed where interference occurred) - Q: How long is overtime in the regular season?
A: 10 minutes - Q: What’s the length of an NFL field including end zones?
A: 120 yards - Q: How many seconds does the play clock typically show?
A: 40 seconds (sometimes 25 after certain stoppages) - Q: What’s a pick-six?
A: An interception returned for a touchdown - Q: How many players can be in motion before the snap?
A: 1 player - Q: What’s the penalty for holding?
A: 10 yards - Q: How wide is a football field?
A: 53⅓ yards (160 feet) - Q: What’s the hash mark distance from the sideline?
A: 70 feet, 9 inches in the NFL - Q: Can you score 1 point in football?
A: Yes, through a defensive conversion safety (extremely rare) - Q: What’s the “Rooney Rule”?
A: Requires teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions
College Football
College football has its own rich history and traditions. These questions cover everything from historic games to rivalry trophies. My college roommate was a Michigan fan, and gameday Saturdays at our place were intense!
- Q: Which college football team has won the most national championships?
A: Alabama (18) - Q: What trophy is awarded to the best college football player each year?
A: Heisman Trophy - Q: Which rivalry game is called “The Game”?
A: Michigan vs. Ohio State - Q: What’s the oldest college football bowl game?
A: Rose Bowl (1902) - Q: Which college has the largest football stadium?
A: Michigan (Michigan Stadium, “The Big House”) - Q: What is the trophy for winning Alabama vs. Auburn called?
A: Iron Bowl - Q: Which school is known as “Death Valley”?
A: LSU (and also Clemson) - Q: Who is the all-time leader in college football wins as a head coach?
A: John Gagliardi (489 wins) - Q: What’s the name of Florida State’s mascot tradition?
A: Chief Osceola and Renegade - Q: Which conference is known as the “Conference of Champions”?
A: Pac-12 - Q: What year did the College Football Playoff begin?
A: 2014 - Q: Which college team is nicknamed the “Crimson Tide”?
A: Alabama - Q: What’s the name of the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry game?
A: Red River Rivalry - Q: Which college football coach is known as “The Mad Hatter”?
A: Les Miles - Q: What trophy do Michigan and Minnesota play for?
A: Little Brown Jug - Q: Which school has the most Heisman Trophy winners?
A: USC and Oklahoma (8 each) - Q: What’s the name of Army-Navy game trophy?
A: Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy (three-way with Air Force) - Q: Which college team has the longest winning streak in history?
A: Oklahoma (47 games from 1953-1957) - Q: What conference is Notre Dame football in?
A: Notre Dame is independent (not in a conference) - Q: Which college stadium is known as “The Swamp”?
A: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (University of Florida)
Find more would you rather questions to keep the conversation going after trivia!
Why Football Trivia is Perfect for Game Day
Let me tell you something – football trivia is the ultimate game day activity. It’s both entertaining and educational, and it really brings people together. I don’t know about you, but I’ve made some of my best memories arguing over whether Tom Brady or Joe Montana was the better quarterback (spoiler alert: it never ends well).
The best part? You can play it anywhere. Last year during the playoff season, my friends and I were stuck in traffic heading to a tailgate party, so we started firing off trivia questions. By the time we arrived, we had learned more about football than we had in years. Plus, it’s a great way to impress your hardcore football fan friends – trust me on this one.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – 100+ football trivia questions to test your knowledge and impress your friends! Whether you aced every question or learned something new, I hope you had as much fun reading these as I did putting them together.
Did you know all the answers? I’ll admit, when I first started researching these questions, even I was surprised by some of the obscure facts I discovered. That’s the beauty of football – there’s always something new to learn.
Feel free to bookmark this page for your next game day party or family gathering. And if you’re looking for more fun questions to ask during halftime, check out our collection of funny ways to say hello or browse through our conversation starters for texting to keep the football banter going between games.
Remember, the best part about trivia isn’t just knowing the answers – it’s the conversations and memories you create while playing. So grab some snacks, gather your fellow football fans, and may the best trivia master win!