IRVING, Texas (Aug. 30, 2022) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today released impactful numbers on the state of football, including key stats from the high school, collegiate and NFL levels, showcasing the many opportunities the game provides the more than one million high school and 81,000 collegiate athletes who play the game each year.
 
"Football has been an integral part of the American experience for 152 years, and it continues to foster the key leadership skills that benefit the young people who play the game," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We wanted to highlight all the key numbers from high school football, college football and the NFL to show where the game stands today. The 2021 season saw great success as colleges and universities returned to full schedules and capacity crowds. We look forward to an amazing 2022 season, which also marks the historic 75th anniversary of the National Football Foundation."
 
As the 2022 season approaches, the NFF anticipates that more than one million students will take the field at 15,810 high schools and another 81,000 will play at the college level at 774 four-year institutions. The game has seen growth in other areas as well, with 15 colleges and universities now offering sprint football while another 16 NAIA schools are playing women's flag football at the varsity level.
 
 

FOOTBALL BY THE NUMBERS

 
High School Football
 
15,810* High Schools in the United States that Sponsor Football (as of 2018-19 Season, National Federation of State High School Associations)
 
1.04 Million* High School Football Players in the United States (as of 2018-19 Season, National Federation of State High School Associations)
 
7.8 Percent of High School Football Players will Play in College
 
*Note: These numbers do not include private and/or parochial high schools that do not report to the state high school associations.
 
 
College Football (Est. 1869)
 
774 Colleges & Universities Playing Football at All Levels (FBS, FCS, Div. II, Div. III, NAIA and more)
 
81,000(+) College Football Players in NCAA & NAIA
 
81 Colleges & Universities Added Football Programs from 2008-21
 
7 Colleges & Universities Will Add Football Programs in 2022 and Beyond
 
15 Colleges & Universities Offering Sprint Football
 
16 NAIA Schools Playing Women's Flag Football
 
125 Junior Colleges Offering Football
 
0.41 Percent of College Football Players Made NFL Opening Week Rosters in 2021
 
99.6 Percent of College Football Players Go on to Other Careers
 
 
National Football League (Est. 1920)
 
32 NFL Teams
 
2,016 Players on NFL Rosters
 
320 Rookies Made NFL Opening Week Rosters in 2021 (NFL)
 
262 College Football Players Were Drafted in 2022
 
433 College Football Players Signed as Undrafted Free Agents or Received Training Camp Invitations in 2022
 
3.3 Years is an Average NFL Player's Career (Statista)
 
 
College & University Graduation Rates
 
81% Graduation Success Rate of Football Bowl Subdivision Football Student-Athletes (NCAA)
 
68% Graduation Rate of General Student Body at Division I Institutions (NCAA)
 
3,113 Student-Athletes on 2022 College Football Rosters Have Already Earned Their Undergraduate Degrees
 
5,863 Football Student-Athletes have Returned to School to Earn Their Degrees since 2003 – the most among all NCAA Division I sports (NCAA)
 
 
National Football Foundation (Est. 1947)
 
5.62 Million College Football Players All-Time (est. 1869)
 
1,056 Players and 226 Coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame All-Time (est. 1951)
 
Less Than Two One-Hundredths of a Percent (.02%) of All-Time Players Have Earned Induction into the College Football Hall of Fame
 
32 William V. Campbell Trophy® Recipients Recognized as College Football's Top Scholar-Athlete (est. 1990)
 
891 College Football Players from 270 Schools Honored as NFF National Scholar-Athletes All-Time (est. 1959)
 
14,655 College Football Players All-Time Named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society (est. 2007)
 
120 Chapters in 47 States Representing Over 6,000 High Schools and 600,000(+) Players (est. 1957)
 
75th Anniversary of the National Football Foundation in 2022
 
64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6, 2022 – Click Here for More Information
 
 
NFF Future For Football® (Est. 2014)
 
24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week as the Go-To Source for the Good in the Game – Visit www.futureforfootball.com for More Information
 
 
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters in 47 states, NFF programs include the selection and induction of members of the College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta; Future For Football; The William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Award; and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Jostens, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the New York Athletic Club, the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.