The National Football League (NFL) is a professional football league that consists of 32 teams across the United States, and takes place a total of 18 weeks not including preseason, and post-season. Preseason games happen between July 31st and August 23rd for the 2025 season. Teams scrimmage each other in a real game situation to prepare for the regular season. During the regular season teams play a total of 17 games over a 18 week span including one BYE week, which is a week they do not play. This is more of a break for the team. The regular season takes place from September 4th to January 4th this season. January 10th the playoffs will take place, including a wild card round, divisional round, conference championship round, and the main event, the super bowl that will take place on February 8th 2026 at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California this year for the 106th NFL season. During the postseason, the top teams that make the playoffs based on division and record battle it out on the field to earn a spot to advance to the next round. In order to make the playoffs, a team must win their division or have one of the best records among non-division winners in their conference. Each conference, AFC and NFC, sends seven teams to the playoffs. The four division winners who receive a BYE over the first round and three wild card teams that are the best of the remaining teams and will have to play in the first round. During the postseason, the Pro Bowl takes place before the Super Bowl. This season, the Pro Bowl will take place on February 3rd 2026 and is an annual all-star event hosted by the NFL to honor its best players. It is a week-long skill competition that consists of mini games and a 7 on 7 game (AFC players vs NFC players) who are determined by fans, coaches, and other players.
The NFL has so many star players, but how do you become one? First, you have to declare for the draft. This past NFL draft took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin over the course of 3 days. April 24th, the first round took place, April 25th the second and third round, and April 26th round four through seven. This year, the first pick of the draft was Cam Ward, a Quarterback out of Tennessee who went to the Titans. The draft takes about 257 players a year but the number can vary. Thousands of college players are eligible for the draft, but only about 250 are selected. Players not chosen can still be signed by teams as undrafted free agents. Each of the 32 teams receives one pick in each of the seven rounds of the NFL Draft unless a trade is made or a special circumstance.
In the NFL every team has a record. A record is how many wins and losses each team has. For example, the Dallas Cowboys are 6-6-1. This means they have 6 wins, 6 loses, and 1 tie which leaves them second in the NFC East. There are 8 divisions. 4 in the NFC and 4 in the AFC. The current divisional leaders as of week 15 are the 11-2 New England Patriots leading the AFC East, the 7-6 Pittsburgh Steelers leading the AFC North, the 9-4 Jacksonville Jaguars leading the AFC South, and the 11-2 Denver Broncos leading the AFC West, the AFC conference and the league. In the NFC, the 8-5 Philadelphia Eagles lead the NFC East, the 9-3 Green Bay Packers lead the NFC North, the 7-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers lead the NFC South, and the 10-3 Los Angeles Rams lead the NFC West and the conference.
This season, many rookies have shocked the league with their performances such as Jaxson Dart, Quarterback for the New York Giants; Cam Skattebo, running back for the New York Giants; Travis Hunter, Cornerback and Wide Receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars; and Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many rookies have put on a show this season, but these four have stood out the most based on the team records, stats, and in-game performance.
The league also has seen some shocking trades this season. Micah Parsons traded from Dallas to Green Bay shocked the news since he was one of the Cowboys best defensive players. The Cowboys received two first round picks and defensive tackle, Kenny Clark. Defensive tackle, Quinnen Williams was also traded from the Jets to Dallas for a 2026 first round pick, a 2027 first round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Sauce Garder was traded from the bottom to having a shot in the post season after the Jets sent him to the Colts for 2 first round picks. Finally another major trade was 49ers wide receiver, Deebo Samuel. Deebo was traded from San Francisco to Washington for a fifth round pick, fulfilling his trade request.
While these trades were shocking and hurtful to the team’s fans, they are not the only upsetting events that have taken place this season. Star athletes such as Tyreek Hill, Miles Sanders, and Zach Ertz are out for the season with knee injuries. Najee Harris and Daniel Jones are out with a torn achilles, Cam Skattebo with an ankle injury, and Brandon Aiyuk with an ACL tear. While these players had to spend a majority of the season on the sideline, or got hurt with playoffs coming up some athletes missed weeks with minor injuries but have made a recovery. Jaxon Dart and CJ Stroud with a concussion, Jalen Hurts with a foot injury, and Jayden Daniels with a brutal elbow injury. Just recently, Green Bays star defensive man Micah Parsons is missing the rest of the season with an ACL tear as well as Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
Although these injuries have been shocking this season, so are some leading teams’ records. The New England patriots have a good shot at a super bowl which they have not won since Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski carried their team in 2019. The Broncos have not had a major winning streak since 2016 and now lead the league with a high chance to go far in the post-season. The Dallas Cowboys became the first team to beat 2 previous Super Bowl champions in 4 days.
Some predictions from students include the Packers and Rams will go far in the playoffs. The Patriots also are predicted to go far as well.
This season is definitely one to remember and the NFL fans cannot wait for playoffs coming up in a couple weeks.
