Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does an American football team earn a first down?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
American football
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts during Super Bowl LVII, 2023; the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In American football, an offensive team earns a first down by advancing the ball at least 10 yards within a series of four downs (attempts).123
Successfully gaining these 10 or more yards grants the team a new set of four downs to continue their drive toward the opponent's goal line. If the offense fails to gain the required yardage after four attempts, they must surrender possession of the ball to the opposing team, which is typically done by punting on the fourth down.12
This system of downs was created by Walter Camp to ensure consistent progress and prevent teams from holding the ball indefinitely, a strategy that had previously led to scoreless ties.3