The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). 


The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. 


The NFL's 18-week regular season runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 17 games and having one bye week.


 Following the conclusion of the regular season, seven teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl, which is played between the champions of the NFC and AFC. The league is headquartered in New York City.


The NFL was formed in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) before renaming itself the National Football League for the 1922 season. 


The NFL agreed to merge with the American Football League (AFL) in 1966, and the first Super Bowl was held at the end of that season; the merger was completed in 1970.


 Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance (67,591) of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States. 


The Super Bowl is among the biggest club sporting events in the world and individual Super Bowl games account for many of the most-watched television programs in American history, all occupying the Nielsen's Top 5 tally of the all-time most watched U.S. television broadcasts by 2015.


The NFL's executive officer is the commissioner, who has broad authority in governing the league. 


Each team has a location where it practices during the season and where it hosts home games. 


The NFL regular season begins on the first Thursday of September and ends on the first Sunday of December. Each team plays 17 games during the regular season, with one bye week for each team between weeks four and twelve.


 After the end of the regular season, seven teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl, which is played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.


The NFL is a multi-billion dollar industry, and its revenues continue to grow year after year. 


Television rights deals are a major source of revenue, with the league earning billions of dollars each year from networks such as CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN. In addition, the league earns revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorship deals. 


The NFL is also involved in a number of philanthropic and community-related initiatives, including the NFL Foundation and the NFL Play 60 program.


Overall, NFL is the most popular sports league in the United States and its reach extends far beyond the country's borders. With its fast-paced action, intense rivalries, and larger-than-life players, the NFL continues to capture the imagination of sports fans around the world.