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For the first time since Super Bowl IV at the conclusion of the 1969 season, the official NFL game ball was known as "The Duke" in honor of Wellington Mara, whose family owns the New York Giants. Son John is the current CEO of the team. The NFL first used "The Duke" ball in honor of Mara in 1941 after then-Chicago Bears owner George Halas and then-Giants owner Tim Mara (Wellington's father) made a deal with Wilson Sporting Goods to become the league's official supplier of game balls, a relationship that continued into its' sixty-fifth year in 2006. [4]
"The Duke" ball was discontinued after the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger, and the merged league began using a different standardized ball made by Wilson. The only other time that "The Duke" ball name was used was during the two Thanksgiving Classic games in 2004.
One side of the new 2006 "Duke" football featured the NFL shield logo in gold, the words "The Duke", and the NFL commissioner's signature. The obverse side has a small NFL logo above the needle bladder hole, the conference names between the hole, and the words "National Football League" in gold. As per the custom, specially branded balls were used for the first week of the 2006 season ("Opening Kickoff"), Thanksgiving Classic, conference championships, Super Bowl XLI and Pro Bowl games.
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Are NCAA footballs larger than NFL footballs?
no, nfl footballs are a little larger than ncaa footballs
What temperature are NFL footballs kept?
footballs are kept at 71o F
What was the name of the football used in the nfl during the 1960's?
Wilson has made every single football for the NFL since 1941. The company has actually built a factory solely dedicated to the production of NFL footballs in 1955. The football model used by the NFL is known as "The Duke", named after former NY Giants owner Wellington "the Duke" Mara.
How many NFL footballs are in a NFL yard?
A football is 11 inches long, so a little bit over three footballs are in a yard.
What do they do with NFL footballs after the played?
They use them for practice.
Are NFL footballs bigger than high school footballs?
because by the time you are in the NFL you are fully grown and you are bigger than when you where in high school.
How many new footballs must be marked with the letter K by referees in the nfl?
12 new footballs are marked with the letter "K' for NFL football games.
What do nfl players sign footballs with?
they sign it with a marker
What are NFL footballs made of?
CowHide (I am not positive on this but I think it is)
Are footballs in high schools different from official NFL footballs?
Yes, high school footballs are smaller and usually have two white stripes (NCAA regulation) near the ends.
Where can one find more information about NFL footballs?
Information about NFL footballs can be found in many big name sporting good stores. You can also find information in library books or on the internet.
Where are National Football League footballs manufactured?
All NFL footballs are manufactured in the Wilson Sporting Goods football factory in Ada, Ohio. It is the only football manufacturing facility in the US, and has been making NFL footballs in the same building since 1955. The entire process is done by hand and they produce about 4,000 footballs a day.
