The 10 Best Football Shows of All Time, Ranked

Get ready for Super Bowl Sunday with these great series.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 5:55pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend. Why not prepare for the big day by watching one of the greatest football shows of all time? 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.

Why it matters

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.

The details

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. These 10 great football shows use the sport as a lens to examine life, identity, and community.

  • Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend.

The players

1st & Ten

1st & Ten is centered around the fictional California Bulls, a professional football team in the United States Football League, or the USFL.

Chad Powers

Chad Powers introduces Russ Holliday (Glen Powell), a football player whose career implodes after a scandalous mistake on the field.

Blue Mountain State

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.

The League

The League is a comedy series centered on a group of friends whose lives revolve around their fantasy football league.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez

American Sports Story is an anthology series, the first season of which follows the rise and fall of Aaron Hernandez (Josh Andrés Rivera).

Coach

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.

Colin in Black & White

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.

Ballers

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.

All American

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.

Friday Night Lights

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.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

These 10 great football shows use the sport as a lens to examine life, identity, and community, going far beyond recapping competitions to explore the personal struggles, fierce rivalries, and passionate communities that make football more than just a sport.