National Football Foundation Released Annual Report
The report highlights record-breaking attendance and shifting viewership trends across the American football landscape.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Football
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The National Football Foundation released its annual report for the 2026-27 season, underscoring the sport's massive reach through record-setting attendance and high television viewership. The findings show football remains the favorite sport for 31% of Americans, with the NFL and college games dominating the year's most-watched programs.
Why it matters
The report highlights the enduring popularity of football in the United States while demonstrating significant progress in player safety protocols across both professional and collegiate levels. These trends reflect the sport's ongoing efforts to balance commercial growth with injury reduction measures.
FBS attendance reached a record 38,973,119 for the 2026 season, while Super Bowl LX averaged 125.6 million viewers. NFL concussions decreased by 17% in 2024 compared to 2023, and lower-extremity injuries on kickoffs fell 35% under the new format.
The players
National Football Foundation
This non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting the development of amateur football and managing the College Football Hall of Fame.
The details
The report details a surge in youth and gender-inclusive participation, noting 102,360 girls are now playing high school flag football. Meanwhile, deaths from direct traumatic injuries across all levels of the game dropped by 45% when comparing the 2006-15 period to the 2016-25 decade.
Timeline
2006-2015 served as the baseline period for traumatic injury data.
2016-2025 was used as the comparison period for traumatic injury data.
2024 marked the year for tracking NFL concussions and coaching employment.
2025 was the data year for television viewership metrics and injury statistics.
2026 saw the publication of the report and the record-breaking attendance figures.
Season Trajectory
The record attendance and viewership figures demonstrate that football remains the dominant force in the American sports economy despite ongoing scrutiny of player safety. This data reinforces the league's success in navigating safety concerns while maintaining the sport's massive market share.
The record-setting 38,973,119 FBS attendance indicates a high demand for in-person collegiate events, which may drive ticket pricing for major programs. Additionally, the 35% reduction in kickoff-related leg injuries signals a permanent change to game-day tactical play and player health management.
The takeaway
Football remains the most popular sport in the United States, anchored by massive broadcast audiences and steady growth in inclusive youth programs. Future success for the sport will depend on continuing the observed downward trends in severe player injuries.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the game, visit the Football section.
Live Poll
Do you believe the sustained popularity of professional and college football is a positive development?
