American Football vs Canadian Football (CFL) — Same Game, Different Rules
Same sport, different leagues. See exactly where NFL and CFL rules diverge.
| Attribute | American Football | Canadian Football (CFL) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Team Sports | Team Sports |
| Organization | NFL | CFL |
| Players | 11 | 10–15 |
| Location | both | both |
| Season / Version | 2025 Rulebook | CFL 2025 Rule Book (PDF at static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025_Rule-Book.pdf; 2026 in-season rule changes: rouge modifications; 2027 changes: goalposts to back of end zone, field re-sized) |
| Verification | 🏛️Official — NFL | 🏛️Official — CFL |
Comparison Summary
American Football and Canadian Football (CFL) share 9 rule topics. All 9 have different rules.
Key differences in: Concussion Protocol, Goal Posts, Point Values, Section 2: Equipment, Section 3: Playing Area and 4 more.
These sports also have different player counts.
Shared Rules — Side by Side(9 shared topics)
Concussion Protocol
Rules differThe NFL operates one of the most comprehensive concussion protocols in professional sports. Any player suspected of sustaining a concussion is immediately removed from the game and evaluated by the team's medical staff in the sideline medical tent or locker room.
Independent spotter: The CFL employs independent medical spotters who can stop play to evaluate any player suspected of having a concussion; Removal requirement: Any player identified with concussion symptoms is immediately removed from the game; Return to play: A player diagnosed with a concussi...
Goal Posts
Rules differPositioned at the center of the end line (back of the end zone); Crossbar height: 10 feet (3.05 m) above the ground; Uprights: 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) apart, extending at least 30 feet above the crossbar
Location: On the goal line, not at the back of the end zone. The NFL moved goal posts to the end line in 1974; the CFL kept them on the goal line.; Width: 18 feet 6 inches between the uprights — same as NFL; Crossbar height: 10 feet — same as NFL
Point Values
Rules differTouchdown (6 points): Scored when a player carries the ball into or catches the ball in the opponent's end zone, or when a fumble is recovered in the opponent's end zone.; Extra Point / Point After Touchdown (1 point): After a touchdown, the scoring team may kick the ball through the uprights fro...
Touchdown: 6 points — same as NFL/NCAA; Convert (PAT): 1 point for a kick from the 32-yard line (NFL kicks from the 15-yard line, NCAA from the 3-yard line). The CFL's longer PAT distance makes it a more meaningful play.; Two-point conversion: 2 points, from the 3-yard line — same as NFL/NCAA
Section 2: Equipment
Rules differThe official NFL football (the "Duke") is made of cowhide leather with a pebble-grain texture. It must conform to the following specifications: Long axis: 11 to 11.25 inches (28–28.6 cm); Short circumference: 21 to 21.25 inches (53.3–54 cm); Long circumference: 28 to 28.5 inches (71.1–72.4 cm)
The CFL ball is slightly different from the NFL ball: Size: Slightly larger circumference than the NFL ball — the CFL ball has a slightly more pronounced pointed shape; White stripes: Like the NCAA ball, the CFL ball features white stripes on each end for visibility, especially at night games. Th...
Section 3: Playing Area
Rules differThe NFL playing field is a rectangle with the following dimensions: Overall length: 120 yards (109.7 m) — 100-yard playing field plus two 10-yard end zones; Width: 53 1/3 yards (48.8 m); Surface: Natural grass or approved artificial turf (the NFL has encouraged a transition toward natural grass f...
The CFL field is the largest playing surface in professional gridiron football: Length: 110 yards (100.58 meters) between goal lines — 10 yards longer than NFL/NCAA; Width: 65 yards (59.44 meters) — nearly 12 yards wider than NFL/NCAA's 53⅓ yards; End zones: 20 yards deep — TWICE as deep as NFL/N...
Section 5: Rules of Play
Rules differThe offensive team has four downs (plays) to advance the ball at least 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage. Successfully gaining 10 or more yards results in a new first down.
Canadian football uses 3 downs to advance 10 yards, compared to 4 downs in American football.
Section 6: Scoring
Rules differTeams are ranked by win-loss-tie record. The following tiebreakers are applied in order: head-to-head record, division record, record against common opponents, conference record, strength of victory, strength of schedule, combined ranking in confe...
The rouge or single point is one of the most distinctive features of Canadian football: Touchdown: 6 points — same as NFL/NCAA; Convert (PAT): 1 point for a kick from the 32-yard line (NFL kicks from the 15-yard line, NCAA from the 3-yard line). The CFL's longer PAT distance makes it a more meani...
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Rules differThe NFL operates one of the most comprehensive concussion protocols in professional sports. Any player suspected of sustaining a concussion is immediately removed from the game and evaluated by the team's medical staff in the sideline medical tent or locker room.
The CFL season extends into late November, when Canadian weather conditions can be extreme: Independent spotter: The CFL employs independent medical spotters who can stop play to evaluate any player suspected of having a concussion; Removal requirement: Any player identified with concussion sympt...
The Football
Rules differThe official NFL football (the "Duke") is made of cowhide leather with a pebble-grain texture. It must conform to the following specifications: Long axis: 11 to 11.25 inches (28–28.6 cm); Short circumference: 21 to 21.25 inches (53.3–54 cm); Long circumference: 28 to 28.5 inches (71.1–72.4 cm)
The CFL ball is slightly different from the NFL ball: Size: Slightly larger circumference than the NFL ball — the CFL ball has a slightly more pronounced pointed shape; White stripes: Like the NCAA ball, the CFL ball features white stripes on each end for visibility, especially at night games. Th...
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