Why Is American Football Called Football / myLot

November 6, 2015 2:54pm CST

I guess this is a history question, but I have always been intrigued as to why American football is known as football even though the ball is carried and thrown for the majority of the game. To me football is what is known as soccer in the USA, I am an Englishman and football is pretty much a religion here so to here it called soccer is very odd. I love American football it is a very entertaining sport, I went to a San Diego Chargers v Minnesota Vikings game many years ago and it was an awesome experience, every one was so friendly and the game was really interesting to watch. So do you know how American football got it's name?

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2 responses

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

6 Nov 15

The same argument would exist for Rugby football as well. In both cases the same is most likely historical and due to the original game from which they were developed is football.

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Paul Connor

@mrtoffee (1522)

•

6 Nov 15

@Asylum I did wonder if American football was developed from football, I always forget that rugby is really called rugby football.

Koalemos

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

6 Nov 15

@mrtoffee It must be a development from our football because it seems unlikely that game would have so many similarities otherwise.

1 person likes this

Paul Connor

@mrtoffee (1522)

•

6 Nov 15

@Asylum I always thought it had derived from rugby, but I guess if rugby was derived from football it makes sense that American football also started the same way.

@LadyDuck (502957)

• Italy

7 Nov 15

In Italy soccer is called football, sometimes "Italianized" as "calcio".