Football

Football, specifically American football, is epitomized by the National Football League (NFL), established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association before adopting its current name in 1922. The league’s 32 teams include storied franchises like the Green Bay Packers, founded in 1919, and the Dallas Cowboys, established in 1960. Each season culminates in the Super Bowl, with recent landmark games such as Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, where the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in a dramatic finish, drawing over 114 million viewers. The NFL’s cultural impact extends beyond the gridiron through moments like the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show headlined by Lady Gaga and the rise of players such as Patrick Mahomes, who won MVP honors in 2018 and led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl LIV victory in 2020. Complex covers the league’s influence on fashion, music, and social media, highlighting how fantasy football leagues and digital platforms amplify player narratives and team rivalries, solidifying football’s role in American sports and entertainment.

Sign Up to get access to the latest drops, exclusive products and insider updates.
By entering your email, you agree to receive customized marketing messages from us and our advertising partners. You also acknowledge that this site is protected by reCAPTCHA, and that our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Featured

Latest Stories

Deion Sanders Jr. Reveals His Mother's Struggles: 'She's Been Through a Lot'
Sports

Deion Sanders Jr. Reveals His Mother’s Quiet Grief: ‘She’s Been Through a Lot’

The former wife of NFL legend Deion Sanders has quietly faced profound grief—now her son reveals how faith carried her through years of family loss.

NFL Star Says Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Pairing 'Makes So Much Sense'
Pop Culture

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Are ‘Meant to Be,’ According to NFL Star’s Wife

Kyle and Kristin Juszczyk share why Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s chemistry felt ‘meant to be’ and what made their MSG wedding ‘epic.’

Kayla Nicole Hints She's Moved on From Travis Kelce: 'I'm Grown Now'
Pop Culture

Kayla Nicole Shares 'Grown' Thoughts on Love After Travis Kelce–Taylor Swift Wedding

Weeks after Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s MSG wedding, Kayla Nicole breaks her silence with a raw take on love, growth, and choosing yourself first.

Saquon Barkley's Home Raided, Family Unharmed
Sports

Cops Probe Saquon Barkley Home Burglary Ties to Athlete Theft Ring

Inside the 5 a.m. break-in that rattled the Eagles star, the manhunt for suspects, and why cops think an athlete-targeting theft ring may be involved.

Advertisement
Dak Prescott Salutes Outgoing Cowboys QB Will Grier After He Announces Retirement
Sports

Dak Prescott Shares Message After Will Grier’s NFL Career Comes to an End

Why Dak Prescott’s parting words hit different for Will Grier, the Panthers’ retired QB whose brief NFL stats hide a wild football backstory.

Judge Makes Material Ruling in Shilo Sanders Bankruptcy Case
Sports

Judge’s New Bankruptcy Rulings Put Shilo Sanders’ $11.89 Million Debt on the Line

Key evidence from a 2015 altercation and a $11.89 million judgment will now shape whether Shilo Sanders can escape debt in a high-stakes bankruptcy trial.

Travis Hunter Unveils New Brawny Look During Jaguars' Training Camp
Sports

Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Looks Jacked Ahead of Return From Knee Injury

After months of rehabilitation and extra time in the weight room, Hunter is nearing Jaguars camp with a noticeably more muscular frame.

Stefon Diggs' Assault Accuser Claims the Patriots Tried to 'Fly Him Out'
Sports

Stefon Diggs’ Accuser Says His Camp Arranged Trip Tied to Lawsuit

Court filings, text messages and competing accounts could make travel records a key issue in Stefon Diggs’ defamation case.

OJ Simpson's Exclusion from New Buffalo Stadium's 'Wall of Fame' Met with Protests
Sports

Buffalo Bills Fans Protest O.J. Simpson’s Exclusion From New Stadium Honors

From Change.org signatures to a rally in Buffalo, supporters say the Bills are rewriting history by sidelining one of their greatest players.

Advertisement
Stefon Diggs Says There's No Wide Receiver Better Than Him
Sports

Stefon Diggs Claims No NFL Team Has a Better No. 2 Receiver Than Him

Unsigned, 32, and still talking his talk: inside Stefon Diggs’ bold claim that no NFL team’s No. 2 wide receiver can touch his game or his resumé.

Geno Smith Cited for Speeding Amidst Domestic Violence Issues
Sports

Jets QB Geno Smith Faces $400 in Fines After Florida Speeding Stop

The Jets QB faces about $400 in traffic fines as a separate Florida assault investigation remains under review before training camp.

Marcellus Wiley Served with Restraining Order from 'RHOBH' Star Annemarie Wiley at Disney World
Pop Culture

Marcellus Wiley Hit With Restraining Order Papers From 'RHOBH' Alum Annemarie Wiley at Disney World

Inside the explosive accusations, custody battle and Disney World drama fueling Marcellus and Annemarie Wiley's increasingly messy split.

Ice-T's Ex-Girlfriend, Darlene Ortiz, Says She Had a 'Polygamous' Relationship with Marcellus Wiley
Pop Culture

Ice-T's Ex Darlene Ortiz Reveals Past Open Relationship With Marcellus Wiley

The hip-hop video icon explains the 'rules' of their past open romance as Wiley faces a domestic battery charge, divorce filings, and a $500K lawsuit.

Stefon Diggs' Assault Accuser Settles Separate Suit with Brother Darez for $10M
Sports

Stefon Diggs' Accuser Settles $10M Lawsuit Involving Brother Darez Diggs

Court docs reveal a quiet settlement in the $10M lawsuit involving Stefon Diggs' brother as the sexual assault and defamation fight against the ex-Patriots WR continues.

Advertisement
Saquon Barkley Pushes for LeBron to Come to Philly: 'You'd Be Remembered Forever'
Sports

Saquon Barkley Makes Bold Pitch for LeBron James to Join the 76ers

At his youth camp, the Eagles star makes a bold pitch to the NBA’s all-time scoring king as speculation over LeBron’s next team heats up.

Kayla Nicole Spotted for the First Time Since Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce's Wedding
Pop Culture

Kayla Nicole Appears Unbothered After Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift Wedding

The sports broadcaster steps out in L.A. after the Swift-Kelce MSG wedding spectacle, looking relaxed days after her ex's viral nuptials.

Stefon Diggs' Accuser Has Turned Over 100 Pages of Texts
Sports

Stefon Diggs' Accuser Says He Turned Over 100 Pages of Text Messages

Influencer Christopher Griffith says the texts back his sexual assault claims as Diggs fights back in a high-stakes NFL defamation lawsuit.

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App