Football Ops

 Football Ops

Protecting the integrity of the greatest game.

NFL Ops: Honoring the Game

It's our responsibility to strengthen the sport.

League Governance

Ensuring a consistent and fair game that is decided on the field, by the players.

NFL Rules Enforcement

Ensuring that players conduct themselves in a way that honors the sport and respects the game.

NFL Way to Play

Knees Bent. Pads Down. Head Up.

The NFL and HBCUs

The NFL is proud of the HBCU professional football legacy.

Economic & Social Impact

Honoring the league’s commitment to serve the communities where the game is played.

The NFL Ops Team

Meet the people behind NFL Operations.

The Game

 The Game

Learn about the people, the jobs and the technology that deliver the best game possible to NFL fans across the U.S. and around the world. 

Gameday: Behind the Scenes

Countdown to kickoff: how NFL games happen.

Technology

In the NFL, balancing technology with tradition.

Impact of Television

How television has changed the game.

History of Instant Replay

Upon further review…

Creating the NFL Schedule

It takes hundreds of computers and four NFL executives to create the NFL’s 256-game masterpiece.

Big Data Bowl

The inaugural analytics contest explores statistical innovations in football — how the game is played and coached.

Youth Football

Promoting the values of football.

The Players

 The Players

Learn how NFL players have changed over time, how they’re developed and drafted and how the league works with them after their playing days are over.  

Evolution of the NFL Player

Creating an NFL player: from “everyman” to “superman.”

Development Pipeline

Supporting the next generation of players and fans.

Getting Into the Game

Preparing players of all ages for success at football’s highest level.

The NFL Draft

Introducing the next wave of NFL superstars. 

NFL Player Engagement

A look at the programs and services NFL Player Engagement provides to assist every player before, during and after his football career.

College All Star Games

Strengthening football and the community.

NFL Legends Community

Strengthening the NFL brotherhood.

The Officials

 The Officials

Discover the evolution of professional officiating, the weekly evaluation process and how the NFL identifies and develops the next generation of officials.

In Focus: History of the Official

“One thing hasn’t changed: the pressure. It will always be there.”

Inside NFL GameDay Central

The latest information from the NFL's officiating command center.

These Officials Are Really Good

Every week, officials take the field ready to put months of preparation, training and hard work on display, knowing that the whole world — and the Officiating Department — is watching.

Officiating Development

Officiating an NFL game takes years of training and experience. 

The Rules

 The Rules

NFL Football Operations protects the integrity of the game by ensuring that the rules and the officiating are consistent and fair to all competitors.

In Focus: Evolution of the NFL Rules

The custodians of football not only have protected its integrity, but have also revised its playing rules to protect the players, and to make the games fairer and more entertaining.

NFL Video Rulebook

The NFL Video Rulebook explains NFL rules with video examples.

2018 NFL Rulebook

Explore the official rules of the game.

2018 Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis

NFL Overtime Rules

NFL Tiebreaking Procedures

The NFL's procedures for breaking ties for postseason playoffs.

Signals Intelligence

The NFL's familiar hand signals help fans better understand the game.   

NFL Rules Digest

A quick reference guide to the NFL rulebook.

Football 101

 Football 101

Terms Glossary

Sharpen your NFL football knowledge with this glossary of the game's fundamental terms. 

Formations 101

See where the players line up in pro football's most common offensive and defensive formations.

Quick Guide to NFL TV Graphics

Understand what the graphics on NFL television broadcasts mean and how they can help you get the most out of watching NFL games.

NFL Instant Replay Process

The NFL’s instant replay review process focuses on expediting instant replay reviews and ensuring consistency. Learn how it works.

Stats Central

 Stats Central

Go inside the game with the NFL's official game stats. Sort the stats by season or by week.

Chart The Data

Chart and compare the NFL Football Operations stats you're looking for with the NFL's data tool. 

Weekly Dashboard

Get a snapshot of the current NFL game stats, updated weekly during the regular season.

Through the lens of the best in the game — current players, NFL Legends and coaches — the initiative highlights proper technique, shares best practices and showcases the NFL Way to Play.

NFL Way to Play

Explore the official rules of the game with this searchable version of the official 2018 NFL Rulebook.

2018 NFL Rulebook

The inaugural analytics contest explores statistical innovations in football — how the game is played and coached.

Big Data Bowl

The NFL Video Rulebook, narrated by Rich Eisen, brings rules to life with video examples of certain penalties and demonstrations of what the league’s officials look for when they call fouls.

NFL Video Rulebook

Featured Content

NFL Way to Play

NFL Way to Play

Knees Bent. Pads Down. Head Up.
Youth Football

Youth Football

Promoting the values of football.
2018 NFL Rulebook

2018 NFL Rulebook

Explore the official rules of the game.
Evolution of the NFL Player

Evolution of the NFL Player

Creating an NFL player: from “everyman” to “superman.”
The NFL Competition Committee

The NFL Competition Committee

Working to maintain competitive balance and consistency throughout the NFL.
NFL Rules Enforcement

NFL Rules Enforcement

Ensuring that players conduct themselves in a way that honors the sport and respects the game.

Updates

Opponents Determined for the 2019 NFL Season

January 2, 2019

Arizona Cardinals Hold First Pick in 2019 NFL Draft

January 2, 2019

2020 NFL Draft to be Hosted in Las Vegas

December 13, 2018

View All

Football Operations

Step behind the scenes of NFL Football Operations, the department that fosters a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility and ensures that the game’s rules — and the league’s officiating — are consistent to ensure the sport’s long-term success.

Explore Football Ops

The Story

The Game

Take a look behind the scenes at the NFL’s meticulous preparation, each season and each week, for 332 preseason, regular season and playoff games, and see how the league is anticipating the future while preserving the history, integrity and equity of America’s favorite sport.

Explore The Game

The Story

The Players

The NFL is only as good as its players. That’s why the league works with individuals at every stage of their involvement with the game to develop and support not only great players, but also great people. Learn about the history of NFL players and how the league prepares players for life on and off the field.

Explore The Players

The Story

The Officials

NFL officials are the best of the best — for every down and every snap, this seven-person unit makes precision calls and split-second decisions at full speed. Look behind the scenes at how the league scouts, develops and evaluates the officials who work at football’s highest level.

Explore The Officials

The Story

The Rules

The NFL’s rules have continued to evolve since football’s earliest days — always changing to protect the players, the game’s integrity, and to make the game fairer and more entertaining. See how today’s rules have come about through testing, analysis and careful deliberation, and how the game has evolved into the sport beloved by millions today. 

Explore The Rules

The Story

NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. Football is an essential piece of America’s fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. We honor our game’s history while continuing to innovate and preserve our sport for future generations of fans, players, coaches, teams and officials.

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