Football Crossword Puzzles: Free Printable and Online

Tackle our challenging Football crossword puzzles at Grid Genius and test your knowledge of NFL history, legendary players, and iconic gridiron moments.

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10 puzzles, click Print on any puzzle below

Sunday Football Tailgate

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 1. Fourth down decision, sometimes
  2. 2. Asphalt area where the Sunday morning magic happens
  3. 5. Tomato-based dip with a kick
  4. 6. What a team tries to manage late in the fourth quarter
  5. 8. The official start of the afternoon matchup
  6. 11. Melted cheese dip favored by gameday crowds
  7. 13. Patty flipped on the tailgate grate
  8. 14. Bite-sized treat before the main event

Down

  1. 1. Spiral through the air
  2. 3. Defensive move to bring down the ball carrier
  3. 4. Cheesy appetizer loaded with jalapenos and sour cream
  4. 7. Nickname for the oblong ball being tossed around
  5. 9. Yellow marker thrown by an official
  6. 10. Hot dog holder
  7. 12. Cold beverage cracked open before the game begins

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football

Easy · 5×5 · 5 words
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Across

  1. 1. A long kick performed on fourth down
  2. 3. The total points earned by a side
  3. 4. A group of players working together

Down

  1. 1. Throwing the object to a teammate
  2. 2. Protective headgear worn by players

Pro Football Kickoff

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 1. Fourth-down decision when out of field goal range
  2. 2. Flipped at midfield before the opening whistle
  3. 3. Action that begins the play from scrimmage
  4. 4. New England squad traveling to Seattle for the 2026 kickoff
  5. 8. When marching bands and analysts take over the field
  6. 10. A sustained series of offensive plays
  7. 11. Defensive edge rusher's position
  8. 12. Offensive lineman protecting the interior
  9. 13. Little stand used at the very beginning of the game

Down

  1. 1. Aerial attack initiated by the quarterback
  2. 2. The person pacing the sidelines with a headset
  3. 5. Pre-game parking lot celebration with food and fans
  4. 6. Official who throws yellow flags
  5. 7. One of 100 on the painted field
  6. 9. The 100-yard battleground

Football

Hard · 15×15 · 23 words
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Across

  1. 1. The first half of the field's nickname, before the iron
  2. 3. A second look at a play, usually frame-by-frame
  3. 6. The deepest runner in the offensive formation
  4. 7. A defensive hit that costs the leader some pocket change
  5. 9. Extra periods of play when sixty minutes just is not enough
  6. 11. An aerial delivery that skips the ground entirely
  7. 16. A trick play involving a handoff, a pitchback, and a deep pass
  8. 17. Giving up possession with a high-flying kick
  9. 18. A simple metal flipper that decides who starts the battle
  10. 20. Yellow upright target or a very straight route
  11. 21. A secretive circular meeting held in plain public view
  12. 22. An annual selection event where hope springs eternal for weak teams
  13. 23. The area behind the line where the backs prepare to move

Down

  1. 2. A long march downfield, no car required
  2. 4. A protective circle of linemen that quickly collapses
  3. 5. The specialist who usually only uses one foot to score
  4. 8. Quick click that gets everything moving on the turf
  5. 10. To steal a pass mid-air and head the other way
  6. 12. A receiver positioned far from the line, or a hair problem
  7. 13. The final stripe of chalk that separates glory from failure
  8. 14. A sudden rush that sends extra hunters after the passer
  9. 15. The imaginary line where the war of inches begins
  10. 19. Fake grass that offers real rug burn

college football

Easy · 5×5 · 4 words
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Across

  1. 1. A prominent conference in college football.
  2. 3. The grass or turf area where the game is played.

Down

  1. 2. A spike on the bottom of a shoe for traction.
  2. 3. A person who cheers for their favorite university team.

Fantasy Football Drafts

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 1. What ticks down when it is your turn to choose
  2. 2. First-round selection who ruins your entire season
  3. 5. Practice run to test out different selection strategies
  4. 6. The giant grid displaying everyone's selections
  5. 8. Your overarching plan for building a winning team
  6. 10. Swapping a running back for a wide receiver with a rival
  7. 11. Finding a great player rounds later than they should go
  8. 13. The dreaded week when your star player rests
  9. 14. Scoring format that rewards catching the football

Down

  1. 1. The league manager who collects dues and settles disputes
  2. 3. Reliable elite player you start every single week
  3. 4. Estimated points a player will score in a given week
  4. 7. Free agent pool you'll rush to after week one injuries
  5. 9. Digital waiting list for players you want to target next
  6. 12. Acronym determining a player's typical selection spot

Fantasy Football Prep

Medium · 11×11 · 15 words
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Across

  1. 5. Format where you bid imaginary dollars to build a team
  2. 7. Grouping of players with similar projected output
  3. 9. Versatile lineup spot for a runner, receiver, or tight end
  4. 10. Selecting a star running back's direct backup for insurance
  5. 13. Your complete list of drafted gridiron warriors
  6. 14. A first-round pick who completely ruins your season
  7. 15. Metric indicating a player's typical selection position (Abbr.)

Down

  1. 1. Insurance policy against mid-season injuries on your squad
  2. 2. Bonus yardage gained after securing the football (Abbr.)
  3. 3. Common selection format that slithers back and forth
  4. 4. The dreaded week your MVP quarterback is on vacation
  5. 6. Shady, league-ruining cooperation between two managers
  6. 8. Cheat sheet lists ordered from best to worst
  7. 11. Scoring format where volume receivers reign supreme (Abbr.)
  8. 12. An elite, set-and-forget fantasy asset

football ⚽

Easy · 5×5 · 4 words
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Across

  1. 4. A stud on the bottom of a shoe for traction

Down

  1. 1. To strike the ball with the foot
  2. 2. The large grass area where the game is played
  3. 3. A single game played between two sides

Football

Medium · 15×15 · 22 words
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Across

  1. 1. The long break between the second and third quarters
  2. 3. The center's initial action to start a play
  3. 6. Physically bringing an opponent to the ground
  4. 9. The annual event where teams select new talent
  5. 10. The circle where players discuss the next play
  6. 11. What a specialist does for extra points
  7. 13. A pass that hits the ground before being caught
  8. 16. Three feet of progress on the turf
  9. 18. A player who battles in the trenches
  10. 19. The play that starts each half of the game
  11. 20. The act of successfully catching a forward pass
  12. 21. One of the uprights on the scoring frame

Down

  1. 2. When a defender catches a pass intended for the offense
  2. 4. The protected area around the quarterback
  3. 5. The massive venue where the game is played
  4. 7. The winner of the final game of the season
  5. 8. The leader of the offense who calls the signals
  6. 12. The line where both teams face off before the snap
  7. 14. The tournament following the regular season
  8. 15. A common fourth-down decision to flip the field
  9. 17. The yellow indicator of a rules violation

Football

Easy · 5×5 · 4 words
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Across

  1. 3. The person who leads and trains the players
  2. 4. A yellow cloth thrown by a referee to signal a foul

Down

  1. 1. To strike the ball with the foot
  2. 2. The round or oval object players kick or throw
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Football Crossword FAQ

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Yes. Click Print on any puzzle for a print-ready page with the grid, the clues, and a name and date line, or use Download to save it as a PDF, PNG, or JPEG for photocopying. The PDF download includes a filled answer key on the last page for grading.

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