NFL vs NBA: Differences in Format, Viewership, and Revenue

The National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are the most-watched sports leagues in the world, especially in the United States. These games have gained millions of fans over the years.

As of 2024, the NFL has over 410 million fans worldwide, while the NBA has around 2.4 billion global fans, thanks to its strong international reach.

In the U.S., the NFL Super Bowl attracts over 100 million viewers, while the NBA Finals averages around 12 to 20 million viewers per game.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the key differences between the NFL and the NBA.

From rules, season structure, number of teams, and fanbase to player salaries and global influence—we’ll break down what sets these two major leagues apart.

What is the NFL?

The National Football League is a major professional football organisation, founded on September 17, 1920, in Canton, Ohio, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and renamed the NFL in 1922.

Jim Thorpe, a legendary American athlete and player in the league, served as its first president. It consists of 32 teams divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC).

National Football Conference (NFC)

• NFC East: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
• NFC North: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
• NFC South: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• NFC West: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

American Football Conference (AFC)

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
• AFC South: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
• AFC West: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers

The NFL is the wealthiest professional sports league in the world by revenue and has the highest average attendance among sports leagues globally. The season includes a preseason, an 18-week regular season, and playoffs culminating in the Super Bowl.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1949 through the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL). The league was established at the Commodore Hotel in New York, with Maurice Podoloff as its first president.

Key Facts About the NBA:

• Formation: The NBA was created on August 3, 1949, when the BAA and NBL merged.
• Early Years: The BAA was formed in 1946 and initially played in major arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada.
• Teams: Initially, the NBA had 17 teams; it later reduced to eight teams by the 1954–55 season before expanding to its current 30 teams.
• Integration: The NBA integrated in the early 1950s with players like Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton, and Earl Lloyd.
• Global Reach: Today, the NBA is a global sports and media organisation known for its entertaining and innovative style of basketball.

Structure:

• Regular Season: The NBA regular season typically runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games.
• Playoffs: The playoffs follow the regular season, culminating in the NBA Finals.
• Teams: The league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, each with three divisions.

NFL vs NBA: Differences in Game Rules and Season Structure

If you are a sports enthusiast, then you must be familiar with the NBA and NFL, and if you are not, we are here to help you out.

NFL (National Football League):

• Gameplay: American football involves advancing the ball in a series of downs. Teams have four downs to move the ball 10 yards or score. Scoring can occur via touchdowns (6 points), field goals (3 points), or safeties (2 points). Teams can also attempt conversions after touchdowns for extra points.
• Players: Each team fields 11 players at a time, specialising in offence, defence, or special teams roles.
• Time: NFL games consist of four quarters of 15 minutes each, with stoppages extending the game duration to over three hours.
• Penalties: Infractions result in yardage loss, down loss, or disqualification, depending on severity.

NBA (National Basketball Association):

• Gameplay: Basketball focuses on scoring by shooting the ball into the opposing team’s hoop. Players advance the ball by dribbling or passing. Violations like travelling or double dribbling result in turnovers.
• Players: Each team has five players on the court at a time.
• Time: NBA games consist of four quarters of 12 minutes each, with additional time for stoppages and overtime if needed.
• Shot Clock: Teams must attempt a shot within 24 seconds (NBA) or lose possession.
• Fouls: Personal fouls result in free throws or turnovers, depending on the situation.

Season Structure

1) NFL:

• Regular Season: Each team plays 17 games over 18 weeks, including one bye week. Teams alternate hosting nine regular-season games between conferences annually.
• Playoffs: The postseason includes a single-elimination format culminating in the Super Bowl.
• Scheduling Formula: Teams play opponents based on division rotations and previous standings, ensuring every team faces all others at least once every four years.

2) NBA:

• Regular Season: Teams play 82 games (recent seasons had variations like 72). Matchups include intraconference and interconference games with home-and-away formats.
• Play-In Tournament: Teams ranked 7th–10th in each conference compete for playoff spots before the main playoffs begin.
• Playoffs: The postseason features a best-of-seven series format across multiple rounds leading to the NBA Finals.

At a Glance

Player Salaries, Revenue, and Popularity: NFL vs NBA Compared

The NFL and NBA are two of the most prominent sports leagues in the United States, but they differ significantly in terms of player salaries, league revenue, and popularity metrics. Here's a detailed comparison:

1. Player Salaries

• NFL: The NFL operates under a salary cap system, which was set at a record $279.2 million per team for the 2025 season.
• NFL players' salaries vary widely, with quarterbacks and star players earning the most. However, the average salary is lower than in the NBA due to larger team rosters (53 players per team).
• Total projected player costs, including benefits, are $362.48 million per team for 2025.

• NBA: The average NBA player salary for the 2024-25 season is $11.91 million, significantly higher than the NFL average.
• The median NBA salary is $6.7 million, reflecting a more balanced distribution compared to the NFL.
• Top NBA players command massive contracts; for example, Stephen Curry will earn $55.76 million in 2024-25, and Jaylen Brown signed a record $304 million deal.

2. League Revenue

• NFL: The NFL generates significantly more revenue than the NBA, with projections to reach $25 billion annually by 2027 (up from around $8 billion in 2010).
• This revenue comes from lucrative TV deals (e.g., $113 billion over 11 years), sponsorships, and growing international interest.
• NBA: The NBA's annual revenue is over $10 billion as of recent seasons, marking consistent growth but still far below the NFL's figures.
• Revenue sources include TV rights deals with ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, as well as ticket sales and merchandise.

3. Popularity

• NFL: The NFL is widely regarded as America's most popular sport. Its Super Bowl is one of the most-watched events globally.
• The league benefits from a shorter season (17 games per team) that amplifies the importance of each game.
• NBA: The NBA has a strong global following due to its international stars and marketing efforts.
• While it trails the NFL in U.S. popularity, it excels internationally, especially in markets like China and Europe.

4. Average Salaries

• NBA: The average NBA player salary is around $10.5 million to $11 million, reflecting the league's smaller roster size (typically 15 players per team) and higher salary cap.
• NFL: In contrast, the average NFL player salary is much lower, approximately $2.8 million to $3.2 million, due to larger rosters (53 players per team) and a different salary cap structure.

5. Median Salaries

• NBA: The median salary for NBA players is about $3.8 million, indicating a more balanced distribution of earnings.
• NFL: The median salary for NFL players is significantly lower, at around $860,000, highlighting the disparity in earnings distribution between the two leagues.

6. Top Player Salaries

• NBA: Top NBA players earn substantial salaries, often exceeding $50 million annually. For example, Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic are among the highest-paid players.
• NFL: While top NFL players, particularly quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes, earn high salaries, they generally do not reach the same levels as top NBA stars. However, quarterbacks are among the highest-paid positions in the NFL.