football, american, distinct type of football that developed in the united states in the 19th century from soccer association football and rugby football. played by professionals and amateurs generally male college or high school teams, football is one of the most popular american sports, attracting thousands of participants and millions of spectators annually. the forerunner of american football may have been a game played by the ancient greeks, called harpaston. in this game there was no limit to the number of players. the object was to move a ball across a goal line by kicking, throwing, or running with it. classical literature contains detailed accounts of the game, including its rougher elements, such as ferocious tackling. most modern versions of football, however, originated in england, where a form of the game was known in the 12th century. in subsequent centuries football became so popular that various english monarchs, including edward ii and henry vi, forbade...