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NFL draft
NFL draft: the league's annual seven-round selection meeting, also called the player selection meeting. Reverse-order-of-finish picks, 1936 origin under Bert Bell, compensatory picks, and pick value charts.
NFL Europe
NFL Europe, originally the World League of American Football, was the NFL's spring developmental league in Europe from 1991 to 2007, rebranded NFL Europa in its final season, known for quarterback development and never turning a profit.
NFL International Series
NFL International Series: the NFL's regular-season games played outside the US, launched 2007 at Wembley (Giants 13, Dolphins 10); 62 such games by 2026, spanning London, Mexico City, Munich, Madrid, São Paulo, Dublin, and more.
NFL on Thanksgiving Day
NFL on Thanksgiving Day: annual NFL regular-season games on the Thanksgiving holiday, played since 1920; Detroit Lions (since 1934) and Dallas Cowboys (since 1966) host a fixed doubleheader, with a third prime-time game added in 2006.
NFL Players Association
NFL Players Association (NFLPA), the labor union for NFL players founded in 1956; over 2,000 members, CBA through 2030, president Jalen Reeves-Maybin, executive director JC Tretter since March 2026.
NFL playoffs
NFL playoffs: the league's 14-team, seven-per-conference single-elimination postseason ending in the Super Bowl. Began with a 1932 tiebreaker game and 1933 championship game; expanded from 12 to 14 teams in 2020, with only No. 1 seeds getting byes.
NFL Protector of the Year
NFL Protector of the Year: annual NFL award for the league's best offensive lineman, created in 2025 after advocacy by Dion Dawkins and Andrew Whitworth; first winner, Bears guard Joe Thuney, February 2026.
NFL regular season
NFL regular season: 18-week, 272-game schedule; each of 32 teams plays 17 games plus one bye, format adopted 2021 after 16-game era since 1978; determines 14 playoff teams.
NFL Scouting Combine
NFL Scouting Combine, or National Invitational Camp: annual four-day, invitation-only evaluation of top NFL draft-eligible college players in Indianapolis since 1987, begun in Tampa in 1982, testing medicals, drills, and the Wonderlic.
NFL Top 100
NFL Top 100: annual player-voted ranking of the NFL's 100 best players, run by NFL Films since 2011, now an X series; players list top 20 peers; Brady No. 1 four times, Garrett top in 2026.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2024
NFL Top 100 Players of 2024: 14th annual player-voted NFL Films/NFL Network countdown, revealed July 22-Aug. 2, 2024. Tyreek Hill became the first wide receiver voted No. 1; Lamar Jackson No. 2, McCaffrey No. 3, Mahomes No. 4.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025: 15th annual player-voted NFL Films ranking. Saquon Barkley was No. 1, the first running back atop the list since Adrian Peterson in 2013; ten Eagles made the list.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026
NFL Top 100 Players of 2026: player-voted NFL.com ranking for the 2026 season. Myles Garrett No. 1 after a record 23-sack, second DPOY season and trade to the Rams; Stafford No. 4, Allen No. 2, Rams had seven players.
NFL uniform numbers
NFL uniform numbers: position-based jersey numbering under Rule 5. Eligible receivers wear 1-49 or 80-89; 2021 expansion and 2023 legalization of No. 0 broadened the ranges.
NHL entry draft
NHL entry draft: annual NHL selection of eligible players, held since 1963 (Amateur Draft, renamed Entry Draft 1979). Lottery sets first 16 picks; 2026 draft in Buffalo, Toronto picked first of 223 selections.
NHL outdoor games
NHL outdoor games are regular-season games played in stadiums under the Winter Classic, Stadium Series, and Heritage Classic brands, beginning with the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton; 45 games have been staged.
NHL salary cap
The NHL salary cap is a hard ceiling, paired with a mandatory floor, on each National Hockey League team's player payroll, set from league hockey-related revenue.
NHL Winter Classic
NHL Winter Classic: annual New Year's outdoor NHL regular-season game, first played Jan 1, 2008 in Buffalo (Penguins 2-1, Crosby shootout, 71,217 fans); distinct from Stadium Series and Heritage Classic.
Nic Kerdiles
Nic Kerdiles (1994-2023), American ice hockey forward, two-time IIHF U18 gold medalist, Wisconsin Badgers player, drafted 36th overall by Anaheim; first Orange County player for the Ducks, three NHL games, died in a Nashville motorcycle crash.
Nic Naitanui
Nic Naitanui (born 1990) is a retired AFL ruckman who played 213 games for the West Coast Eagles after being drafted at pick 2 in 2008; three-time All Australian, dual John Worsfold Medalist, retired 2023.
Nic Scourton
Nic Scourton (born 2004) is an NFL outside linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, drafted 51st overall in 2025 from Texas A&M after starring at Purdue; 5.0 sacks as a 2025 rookie, torn ACL in July 2026.
Nicco Marchiol
Nicco Marchiol, college football quarterback from Chandler, Arizona; Hamilton High four-star recruit; played 2022-2025 at West Virginia, 2025 starter who medically redshirted, transferred to Northwestern in 2026.
Nicho Hynes
Nicho Hynes (Nicholas Hynes, born 1996, Gosford NSW) is an NRL halfback for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, formerly Melbourne Storm; 2022 Dally M Medal winner with the record points tally, NSW and Australian representative from 2023.
Nick Adenhart
Nick Adenhart (1986–2009), American MLB pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels; debuted May 1, 2008; killed by a drunk driver hours after his six scoreless innings on April 8, 2009.
Nick Allen (infielder)
Nick Allen (Nicholas Ryan Allen, born 1998) is an American MLB shortstop for the Houston Astros, formerly the Athletics and Braves; 2017 third-round pick, 2021 Olympic silver medalist, Gold Glove finalist known for elite defense.
Nick Bollettieri
Nick Bollettieri (Nicholas James Bollettieri) was an American tennis coach who founded the first boarding tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, and developed ten world No. 1 players.
Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers defensive end (#97), Ohio State, second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft; 2019 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2022 AP Defensive Player of the Year with 18.5 sacks, $170 million 2023 extension.
Nick Buoniconti
Nick Buoniconti (1940–2019), Hall of Fame middle linebacker for the Boston Patriots and Miami Dolphins, leader of the No-Name Defense on the 1972 perfect-season team; later co-founded The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and advocated CTE research.
Nick Calathes
Nick Calathes (Καλάθης), born 1989 in Casselberry, Florida, is a Greek-American point guard, EuroLeague all-time assists (1,684) and steals leader, 2018-19 single-season assists record holder (286), 2011 EuroLeague champion, ex-NBA Grizzlies player, now with PAOK through 2028.
Nick Castellanos
Nick Castellanos (Nicholas A. Castellanos, born 1992) is an American MLB outfielder/third baseman for the Tigers, Cubs, Reds, Phillies, and Padres; 2019 doubles leader, 2021 Silver Slugger, first player with multi-HR in back-to-back postseason games.