The 10 Greatest Football Shows of All Time, Ranked

Football has always been known for its drama, and television has long sought to bring the magic of the sport off the field. From gritty locker-room stories to heartwarming tales of underdog teams, football TV series have offered audiences an insider’s view of America’s most popular game. These shows go far beyond recapping competitions. They also explore the personal struggles, fierce rivalries, and passionate communities that make football more than just a sport.

What makes football series so compelling is their ability to reflect universal themes like ambition, loyalty, failure, and redemption. Viewers don’t need to know every rule to feel the pulse of a game or the heartbreak of a loss. Some football shows highlight the natural drama of the spot, while others tell comedic stories using the game as a backdrop. The best football shows use the sport as a lens to examine life, identity, and community.

10

‘1st & Ten’ (1984-1991)

1st & Ten is centered around the fictional California Bulls, a professional football team in the United States Football League, or the USFL. The show begins when Diane Barrow (Delta Burke) inherits ownership of the team after her divorce from its former owner. As one of the few women in a male-dominated sport, Diane faces constant challenges managing egotistical players, stubborn coaches, and the chaotic world of pro football.

1st & Ten stands out as one of the best football series ever because it combines satire and authenticity. The series delivers an uncensored, behind-the-scenes look at the wild, ego-driven, and often absurd world of professional football. The show exaggerates the personalities and situations for laughs, but was grounded enough to feel real, thanks in part to cameos from actual NFL players and coaches.

9

‘Chad Powers’ (2025-Present)

Chad Powers introduces Russ Holliday (Glen Powell), a football player whose career implodes after a scandalous mistake on the field. Eight years later, desperate for redemption, Russ dons heavy prosthetics and a wig, assumes the alias Chad Powers, and walks onto a failing college football team in Georgia as a last chance. What starts as a ridiculous undercover scheme becomes a story about ego, identity, and second chances.

Chad Powers is a show that has already established itself as one of the most notable series about football. Like many of the best shows about football, this one is a charming underdog story with an equally endearing protagonist. The absurd disguise, identity hustle, and oddball characters give the show an appeal even to viewers who aren’t hardcore fans of the sport, which makes it accessible.

8

‘Blue Mountain State’ (2010-2011)

Blue Mountain State is a raunchy college comedy series that follows the lives of football players at the fictional Blue Mountain State University, home of the BMS Goats. Centered around Alex Moran (Darin Brooks), a talented but lazy backup quarterback who prefers partying to playing, the show dives into the wild world of college athletics, complete with excessive drinking, hazing rituals, sex, and absurd locker-room hijinks.

While exaggerated for comedy, Blue Mountain State captures locker-room dynamics, team hierarchies, and the camaraderie of college football, making it feel grounded for sports fans. From over-the-top hazing rituals to wild parties, the show revels in exaggeration without taking itself seriously. Beyond the jokes, it explores themes like teamwork, ambition, and growing up in a high-pressure environment, adding depth to the comedy.

7

‘The League’ (2009-2015)

The League is a comedy series centered on a group of friends whose lives revolve around their fantasy football league. The show follows Pete (Mark Duplass), Kevin (Stephen Rannazzis), Andre (Paul Scheer), Ruxin (Nick Kroll), Taco (Jon Lajoie), and their wives as they compete fiercely, and often even ruthlessly, in the league while navigating personal and professional mishaps. What begins as friendly competition quickly turns into escalating schemes, sabotage, and outrageous shenanigans.

The League is a unique series, as it focuses on the fantasy football angle. Its comedy is irreverent, sharp, and often absurd, but grounded in the real-life dynamics of friends obsessed with football. It’s easy for many viewers to appreciate the extreme lengths the characters go to win the league. The series weaves in real NFL events, stats, and player references, making it resonate with actual football fans.

6

‘American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez’ (2024-Present)

American Sports Story is an anthology series, the first season of which follows the rise and fall of Aaron Hernandez (Josh Andrés Rivera). The first season follows Hernandez’s life, from his promising youth in Connecticut, through his college success at the Florida Gators and NFL stardom with the New England Patriots, to his entanglement in violence, legal downfall, and eventual death by suicide in prison.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez is considered one of the best football-related series because it explores the sport from a perspective rarely addressed in typical football shows. The series examines the price of fame, the unimaginable pressures athletes face, and the tragedy that befalls too many. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez delves into the dark side of this sport and how at-risk athletes can be.

5

‘Coach’ (1989-1997)

Coach is a sitcom that follows the life of Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), the gruff but lovable head coach of the fictional Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles football team. The series blends sports, comedy, and family dynamics, showing Fox navigating the challenges of coaching college football while managing his eccentric assistant coaches, team antics, and his own sometimes chaotic personal life.

Coach is considered one of the best football-related TV series because it combines humor, heart, and authentic football culture in a way that appeals to both sports fans and a wider audience. The show captures the challenges, strategies, and personalities involved in coaching a college football team, making the sports element credible and engaging. Coach succeeds because it balances the intensity and culture of football with humor and human stories.

4

‘Colin in Black & White’ (2021)

Colin in Black & White is a limited series that chronicles the early life of NFL Hall of Famer Colin Kaepernick, focusing on his teenage years growing up as a biracial child in a predominantly white environment in California. The show explores Kaepernick’s struggles with identity, racism, and belonging, while highlighting the formative experiences, including those with family, mentors, and sports, that shaped his character and worldview.

Colin in Black in White is an intimate story that invites viewers to listen to one of the most well-known football players of his generation in his own words. While football is central to Kaepernick’s story, it’s used to illuminate his character development, discipline, teamwork, and the societal pressures athletes face, making it resonate beyond typical sports storytelling. The series succeeds in showing how Kaepernick’s upbringing directly influenced his professional and activist choices.

3

‘Ballers’ (2015-2019)

Ballers is a dramedy series that follows Spencer Strasmore (Dwayne The Rock” Johnson), a former NFL player who transitions into a high-powered financial manager for professional athletes in Miami. The show delves into the glamorous yet cutthroat world of sports management, highlighting the business, lifestyle, and personal challenges of athletes off the field. Ballers offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of wealth, celebrity, and football culture.

Unlike typical football shows, Ballers stands out because it gives viewers a glimpse into the high-pressure world behind often sensational football headlines. The show balances humor, drama, and occasional sports action, making it engaging for both football fans and viewers interested in personal and professional stories. At its core, Ballers is about the relationships that are integral parts of the sport.

2

‘All American’ (2018-Present)

All American follows high school football star Spencer James (Daniel Ezra), who is recruited from South Crenshaw High in South Los Angeles to play for the elite Beverly Hills High. The series explores Spencer’s struggle to balance the pressures of his new privileged environment with loyalty to his roots, family, and community. The series is inspired by the life of former linebacker Spencer Paysinger​​​​​​.

All American stands out as one of the greatest football series ever because it tells deeply human stories and simply uses football as the backdrop. In particular, Spencer James and his teammates are multidimensional characters whose growth, relationships, and struggles keep viewers invested both on and off the field. All American is not just about football. Instead, it’s about the lives shaped by the game, making it meaningful, entertaining, and culturally relevant.

1

‘Friday Night Lights’ (2006-2011)

Friday Night Lights is a drama series that follows the lives of the residents of the small town of Dillon, Texas, where high school football is the central pillar of community life. The story primarily follows Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), his family, and the Dillon Panthers football team, exploring the pressures of leadership, teamwork, and personal growth both on and off the field. Friday Night Lights is known for its realistic portrayal of small-town life and authentic football action.

Friday Night Lights remains deeply influential, and the series has set the standard for subsequent sports dramas. The series captures football with a realism rarely seen on TV, from on-field strategy to the emotional highs and lows of the players. The series stands out because the characters could live in any small American town. Friday Night Lights balances suspenseful football action with heartfelt drama, creating compelling story arcs that engage both sports fans and those who are just along for the ride.