The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and the highest professional level of American football in the world. Each NFL season begins with a three-week preseason in August, followed by the 18-week regular season which 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 that culminates in the Super Bowl, which is contested in February and is played between the AFC and NFC conference champions. The league is headquartered in New York City.
Eight-man football is a form of gridiron football, generally played by high schools with smaller enrollments. Eight-man football differs from the traditional 11-man game with the reduction of three players on each side of the ball and a field width that can be reduced to 40 yards, 13 1/3 yards narrower than the 53 1/3-yard 11-man field. Most states continue to play on a field 100 yards long, whereas a few states opt for 80-yard lengths. Reduced-player football, which consists of eight-man, six-man, and nine-man football has gained popularity across the United States. As of 2015, 1,561 schools in 30 states sponsor reduced-player football, with 1,161 of those teams participating in eight-man leagues, whereas 284 teams play six-man football and 116 teams play nine-man football.
American Football Ireland (AFI) is the National Governing Body for American football for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Founded in 1984 the AFI is entirely volunteer run and all American football played in Ireland is played at an amateur level.
The Belfast Trojans are an American Football team formed in January 2006, and have competed in the IAFL since 2007 playing NCAA rules in full contact. The Belfast Trojans are the current national champions, after winning Shamrock Bowl XXXIII.
The Dublin City University Saints was a former American football team of Dublin City University, Ireland. Established in 2005, the DCU Saints initially competed in the Irish American Football League (IAFL) for five seasons, reaching the playoffs in 2008 and 2009. The team collapsed following the conclusion of the league's 2010 season, before attempting to unsuccessfully reform for the 2013 season.
The Dublin Rebels are the most successful team in the history of the Irish American Football League. They have earned nine national championship wins, four league titles, three European crowns, and have registered an undefeated season twice; once in 2006 and again in 2010.
The 2008 Irish American Football League (IAFL) season is the 22nd season since its establishment. The current champions are the UL Vikings. The first games were played on 30 March. The Shamrock Bowl was scheduled for 10 August in Cork Institute of Technology's brand new stadium. The Shamrock Bowl was the first major national event played there.
The Cork Admirals are an American Football team that play in the Irish American Football League (IAFL). The team is based in Presentation Brothers College Sports Ground, Cork.
The 2007 IAFL season, with new divisional format, was due to begin on March 4 with the College Championship game between DCU Saints and UL Vikings, but the game was delayed due to rain, so the season proper began on March 25 when the Cork Admirals beat the Belfast Bulls, the UL Vikings beat the Tallaght Outlaws and Dublin Rebels beat the Dublin City University Saints. The season continued throughout April and May, with the IAFL College Championship Game eventually been rescheduled on June 3, with the UL Vikings beating the DCU Saints 50–2.
The Erris Rams were an American football team based in Erris, and latterly Castlebar, Ireland. The team was founded by Michael Kelly in October 2008, becoming the first and only American football team in the province of Connacht.
Trinity College Dublin American Football is the American Football team of Trinity College Dublin.
The Belfast Knights is an American Football team and Ireland's longest running American Football club, formerly Carrickfergus Knights. Founded in 1993 by Eddie Kelly, the Knights have been National Champions 3 times, in 1997, 1998 and 2002 and have competed in 9 of the 15 championship games. Their current coaching structure consists of Adam Devenney as head coach, Spencer Mcdowel as offensive co-ordinator, Simon Devenney as defensive co-ordinator and Adam Devenney as special teams co-ordinator.
The Craigavon Cowboys are an American football team playing in Craigavon, currently playing in the Irish American Football League. Early success for the Cowboys seen them take home the Shamrock Bowl Crown in 1986, 1990 and 1992. The Club folded in the mid 90s but reformed again in 2005, winning the DV8 League in 2009 - the DV8 league was set up for young clubs giving them the base to slowly grow their team and to give the rookie players some valuable game time. After winning the DV8 championship the Cowboys jumped up to the top division in Ireland.
The 2011 IAFL season was the 25th regular season of the Irish American Football League.
Shamrock Bowl XXV was an American football game pitting the 6 time Shamrock Bowl champions, Dublin Rebels against university side, UL Vikings. The game was played on July 31, 2011, at the Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin. The Rebels defeated the Vikings by a score of 14-13, earning their seventh Shamrock Bowl win. Rebels safety Marcus Naylor was named the Shamrock Bowl MVP. He was the second Rebels safety ever to win the award following, Brian Carter.
Drogheda Lightning was an Irish American Football team based in the town of Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland. They played in the second tier of Ireland's American football league system The team played their home games at St. Oliver's Community College in Rathmullen, Drogheda Founded in 2010, Drogheda Lightning competed in the IAFL DV8s Division in 2011 and 2012. Following the restructuring of the Irish American Football League structure ahead of the 2013 season, they competed in the newly created IAFL-1 Division from March 2013.
The North Kildare Reapers were an American Football team formed in 2012 and participated in the IAFL from 2013 to 2017 seasons. The team merged with the South Kildare Soldiers after the 2017 season. The merged club plays as the Cill Dara Crusaders. The club Their first year of competition was 2013. They are a fully kitted team playing under the 2014 NCAA rules, as governed by the Irish American Football League.
North Dublin Pirates are an American Football team founded in 2015 and are based in the North County Dublin area of Fingal primarily the large suburban town of Swords. The Club plays in the IAFA affiliated IAFL2 division, The Third Tier of the American Football League system in Ireland. The Pirates currently play their home games at Malahide Rugby Club.
'IAFL-2' is the third tier of American football in Ireland. The League was Founded in 2014 with the Tyrone Titans Winning the inaugural competition.
The 2020 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by Brian Kelly in his 11th season at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish played their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
