By: Derek Gerry
Knowing a little NFL trivia comes in handy, whether you're playing a trivia game or just trying to challenge your friends between downs. Here are a few stumpers to try the next time you're talking pro football.
Easy NFL Trivia Questions
- Which team has won the most Super Bowls? The Pittsburgh Steelers are the current leader, winning their sixth Super Bowl in 2009. You can make this harder by asking which team has won the most NFL championships. That honor belongs to the Green Bay Packers, who won nine of them along with three Super Bowls, including Super Bowls I and II.
- When did the NFL Merger take place? The union between the American Football League and the National Football League was announced on June 8, 1966. The first Super Bowl was played in 1967 and the merger was completed in 1970.
- Who Is the Super Bowl trophy named after? The Vince Lombardi trophy was named for the legendary Green Bay Packers coach in 1970, following his sudden death from cancer. Lombardi coached the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowls as well as three consecutive NFL championships in 1965, 1966 and 1967, an achievment that has never been repeated. His lifetime coaching win percentage of .750 is an NFL record.
Difficult NFL Trivia Questions
- What were the original NFL teams? The first season of the current National Football League was played in 1933 with the following teams: Boston Redskins, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicacgo Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Cincinatti Reds, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Portsmouth Spartans. Five of those original teams still play today in their original cities. One year later, the Portsmouth Spartans moved to Michigan to become the Detroit Lions. The Boston Redskins moved to Washington in 1937 to become the Washington Redskins. The Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis in 1960,then to Arizona in 1988, where they still play today. The Cincinatti Reds disbanded in 1935 after spending two seasons as the St. Louis Gunners. The Brooklyn Dodgers disbanded in 1945.
- Who was the oldest player ever to play an NFL game? Quarterback George Blanda was 48 years old when he was released by the Oakland Raiders in 1976. Blanda played 26 impressive seasons of professional football, and shares the record for most touchdown passes in a game at 7. Thanks to his lengthy pro football tenure, Blanda held the record for most interceptions thrown, but he is now second on the list behind Brett Farve.
- Who kicked the longest field goal? Two players hold the record for the longest field goal at a staggering 63 yards. Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints was first to reach the mark on November 8, 1970. Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos matched that distance on October 25, 1998.
Expert NFL Trivia Questions
- What is the oldest NFL franchise? The Arizona Cardinals, despite three moves, are the oldest continously run team in the NFL. The team began in 1898 as the Chicago Cardinals and was one of the original teams in the modern NFL's 1933 season.
- Who is the All-Time Receiving Leader in the NFL? Former San Francisco, Oakland and Seattle wide receiver Jerry Rice holds more NFL receiving records than any other player. Rice is number one for career pass receptions (1,549), seasons with 50 or more pass receptions (17), consecutive games with pass receptions (274, a feat he achieved for two different teams) and most yards gained in a career (22,895).
- Who scored the most rushing touchdowns in a game? On November 29, 1929, Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals rushed for six touchdowns against the Chicago Bears, earning an NFL record. Four players are tied for second place with five rushing touchdowns, including Cleveland's Jim Brown, Buffalo's Cookie Gilchrist, Jacksonville's James Stewart and Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins, who joined this elite club on December 7, 2003.
