The NFL has become so popular among the american population, that as Will Smith says in the movie Concussion, "the NFL has taken a day of the week from the Church." So what is it about football that attracts so many people to it, and makes it a staple in american pop culture?
Football today is somewhat of a modern form of the gladiators of ancient roman times and people seem drawn to the grueling, physical aspect of sport. People like violence, they're curious about it. It's why crime, murder mystery TV shows are the most popular and horror movies and video games have such large fan bases and also why rubbernecking after a small fender bender on the highway creates a two mile long traffic jam on the other side of the road. People naturally love violence and are drawn to it like moths to a lamp, so it shouldn't come to much of a surprise that the most violent sport has the largest influence. People love to watch the big hits safeties deliver on wide receivers who dare run over the middle of the field, or running backs running over a perusing defensive back on their way to a score.
The NFL has also done a terrific job of marketing itself as being a once a week event, so fans feel like they can't miss a game because they only play once a week. The limited games and regionalized teams bring a sense of community around teams and their fan bases. For 1 PM games fans show up as early as 8AM to start tailgating in stadium lots and make a party like atmosphere before the football even starts and bring people together. Even for those fans who don't travel to games, most people get together with friends and family on Sundays to watch their favorite team play and make it a big social gathering once a week. The community and togetherness around football is what brings people together around it. Because of schedule of 1 game per week, people bond and spend time with each other around it and even for those who don't necessarily enjoy the sport, enjoy the social aspect that comes with football games and being with friends and family.
