Football Coloring Pages – 34 Helmets, Kickoffs and Huddles

Football season starts in the fall, and this page brings the game to your kitchen table. Here you will find 34 free sheets: a helmet with its face mask, a quarterback mid throw, a running back breaking free, a leaping catch, a kickoff and a huddle. Pick a sheet, sharpen your crayons, and color the field green, the ball brown and the jerseys in any team colors you like.

All 34 Football Coloring Pages

All 34 sheets are free and printable. Click any picture to open the PDF, which is sized for A4 paper, then print as many copies as you like. The range runs from very easy single objects like a helmet or a ball to detailed stadium scenes with crowds, so there is something for every age.

The Players

Football Helmet with Two Stars

A football helmet seen from the front left, with a wide face mask, a chin strap with a square buckle and a large round ear hole. Two five-pointed stars sit above it. The big smooth shell is an open area that suits broad marker strokes.

Quarterback Winding Up a Throw

A quarterback in a helmet with a face mask cocks his right arm back, a laced football in hand, while his wide stance fills the field. Goalposts stand behind him, and flag-football tags hang from his belt. The large jersey and pants are open areas, while the face mask bars and cleats need a finer touch.

Running Back Dodging a Diving Defender

A running back sprints toward the viewer with the football tucked under his left arm while a defender in a helmet dives at his flag belt. Stadium floodlights, a goalpost and a packed crowd fill the background. The crowd of small rounded heads is dense, so it suits sharp pencils better than markers.

Receiver Leaping for a Catch

Both arms stretch up toward a laced football as a helmeted receiver jumps off the ground, a flag trailing from his belt. A tall goalpost and a low stadium wall sit behind him, and his cleats have visible studs and laces.

Kicker Watching the Kickoff Soar

Just after the kick, a helmeted player follows the football arcing high overhead, one leg still swung back. A goalpost stands in the distance, four crouching teammates wait in a row on the field, and the kicking tee sits in the grass.

Football Team Huddle on the Field

Five helmeted players stand shoulder to shoulder in a tight huddle with arms locked across each other’s backs, and a laced football rests in the grass in front of them. Behind them are a chain-link fence, a wooden bench and a tall goalpost. The fence mesh is fine, so it takes a sharp pencil.

Plays and Moments

Football Line of Scrimmage with Center Snap

A center crouches over a laced football at the line of scrimmage while a quarterback stands behind him with hands out, and four linemen crouch low on the sides. Behind them are stadium bleachers, a tall goalpost and a blank scoreboard. Bold outlines and big open areas like the jerseys make it easy to color, while the bleacher steps take more patience.

Touchdown Dive Across the Goal Line

A smiling player in a face-masked helmet stretches out in a full-length dive, one hand clamping a laced football down at the goal line. A flag dangles from his belt, cheering spectators raise their arms behind him, and a tall goalpost rises in the background. The broad, open jersey and pants suit chunky crayons.

Wrap-Up Tackle on the Ball Carrier

A defender in a striped helmet wraps both arms around a ball carrier’s waist and drags him toward the turf, while the runner tucks a laced football under one arm. A goalpost and a wooden bench sit behind them, and small grass tufts dot the field. The two striped helmets and the cleats are small areas that suit a sharp pencil.

Defender Intercepting a Pass Mid-Air

Two helmeted flag football players leap on the field. The one in front pulls a laced ball out of the air with both hands while the other reaches up and falls short. Both wear flag belts and cleats, with a goalpost and small bleachers behind them. The laced cleats and helmet face masks are small areas that suit a sharp pencil.

Spiraling Football with Motion Lines

A single football tilts diagonally across the page as if thrown in a tight spiral, with three curved speed lines trailing from its lower end. Seven stitches sit along the lace and two stripes circle each tip. The large, empty center panel is easy to fill with bold color or a leather texture.

Referee Signaling a Touchdown

A smiling referee stands with both arms raised straight up, wearing a striped shirt, a cap, a whistle on a lanyard and cleats. Behind him are a goalpost, a low brick wall and a park-style bench. The vertical shirt stripes are the finest detail; the wide pants and field lines are open areas.

Stadium and Fans

Stadium at Night with Players Lined Up

Seen from behind the quarterback, nine helmeted players crouch in formation with a football on the turf. A goalpost rises before three tiers of packed stands, flanked by two floodlight towers and nine stars. The crowd is drawn in tiny, dense figures, so the stands need a sharp pencil, while the players and field are open areas.

Football Goalpost with Two Uprights

A plain football goalpost seen from the front: two tall uprights rise from a horizontal crossbar, which sits on a single thick support pole. Two small tufts of grass mark the base. Every shape is big and open, so this is one of the easiest sheets in the set, and the long pole works well for a metallic yellow.

Three Cheerleaders Jumping with Pom-Poms

Three smiling cheerleaders leap in the air with their arms raised, holding five fluffy pom-poms. They wear V-neck tops with chevron stripes and pleated skirts, and stadium bleachers fill the background. The ruffled pom-poms and flowing hair have the finest detail, while the skirts and bleacher steps are open areas.

Boy Cheering with Foam Finger

A grinning boy in a striped-sleeve V-neck jersey raises a big foam finger with one arm and pumps his other fist. Behind him a goalpost rises over a crowd of simple silhouettes and a blank banner. The banner and the baggy jersey are big open areas, so the sheet is easy to color.

Father and Son Sharing Popcorn at the Game

A cheering boy with both fists raised sits beside a smiling man in a hoodie who reaches into a striped bucket of popcorn. Behind them, three players run on the field near a goalpost, with a floodlight tower and a crowd of silhouettes. The hoodies and pants are big open areas, while the popcorn kernels and crowd take small, careful strokes.

Coach Explaining a Play to Young Players

A kneeling coach in a cap points at a clipboard with X and O play diagrams while four young players in helmets and cleats listen on a bench. A football rests in the grass at the bottom, with a line of bushes behind. The grass tufts and helmet face masks need small, careful strokes, while the jerseys are open areas.

Kids’ Flag Football

Flag Football Belt with Three Flags

A flag football belt seen from the front, with a snap buckle at the top and three long flags hanging from it. Dashed stitching runs along the belt and every flag, and each flag has a boxed X stitch at its top. The long flags are wide, open areas, so this one is easy to color.

Flag Football Player Grabbing for a Flag

Two young players in helmets race across a grassy field: one clutches a football under an arm while the other reaches a hand toward the flag hanging from the runner’s belt. A goalpost, two trees and a row of bushes fill the background. The large jerseys and shorts are open areas, while the face masks and cleat studs need small, careful strokes.

Flag Football Pass to a Wheelchair Player

A girl with a ponytail tosses a laced football to a smiling player in a wheelchair who reaches up with both hands, while a third player in a helmet runs in from the right. All three wear helmets and flag belts, and a goalpost, park bench and two leafy trees sit behind them. The wheelchair’s spoked wheel is fine work, while the jerseys are roomy and easy to fill.

Youth Football Handoff at Practice

During practice, one helmeted player hands a laced football to a teammate who holds out both hands to take it, while a coach in a cap with a whistle watches from behind. A goalpost, a fence and rolling hills fill the background. Both players wear flag belts, and the helmets and face masks call for careful work.

Flag Football Team Hands-In Cheer

Five smiling young players in helmets and flag belts stack their hands in the middle of a circle, and the freckled player at right tucks a laced football under one arm. Behind them stand a goalpost, a fence and three puffy clouds. Clean outlines and large jerseys make this easy to color, but the face masks need a steady hand.

Four Players Resting on the Sideline Bench

Four young players in helmets sit in a row on a bench during a water break. Two drink from bottles, the other two hold bottles, and each has an orange slice in the other hand. A goalpost and a fence stand behind them, with small grass tufts on the ground. Cleats and face masks add fine detail, while the big jerseys and shorts are easy to fill.

Gear and Extras

Football Cleat with Laces and Studs

A single low-cut football cleat seen from the side, with six lace eyelets, loosely looped laces and dashed stitching along the toe and upper. Five round studs sit under the sole. Bold outlines and big panels keep the detail light, and the laces can take a contrasting color.

Football Locker with Helmet and Shoulder Pads

An open locker holds a helmet on the top shelf, shoulder pads on a hanger, and a pair of cleats next to a mouthguard case. More lockers line the wall at right, and a hooded sweatshirt hangs from a hook. The wide door vents and panels are easy to fill, while the helmet’s face mask and the cleat laces take a steadier hand.

Football Trophy Cup with Goalpost

A two-handled trophy cup with a tilted football resting in its rim, a goalpost rising behind it and a sparkle on each side. The ball has five laces and three stripes per end. The big empty cup body is an easy area to fill, while the lace stitches need a steadier hand.

Two Young Players Drawing a Chalk Play

Two kids in helmets, shoulder pads and flag belts kneel on pavement and sketch a play in chalk, with curved arrows and four oval markers. A football and two loose chalk sticks lie nearby, and a paneled garage door fills the background. The chalk lines are sketchy, so the rest of the page is the easier part to color.

Kids Playing Flag Football in the Snow

Three kids in helmets, scarves and flag belts play catch in a snowy backyard while a football arcs overhead. A goalpost stands behind a picket fence, and bare trees frame both sides. The large, open shapes of the snow and the jerseys are quick to fill.

Golden Retriever Puppy Carrying a Football

A fluffy retriever puppy trots across a lawn with a laced football in its mouth and its tail curled up. Behind it stand a picket fence and an apple tree with six apples, and small grass tufts dot the ground. The fur is drawn with feathery strokes, so the puppy’s coat suits a few shades of gold.

Stadium Field Seen From Above

A bird’s-eye view of a football stadium with two goalposts, yard lines with hash marks and curved rows of stands on every side. Fourteen tiny players line up in formation around a ball at midfield. The players are small and detailed, while the wide lawn and stands are easy to fill.

Patterns and Designs

Football and Whistle Wreath

A round wreath of six laced footballs alternating with six referee whistles on looped lanyards, leaving the center open. The footballs are tilted at different angles, each with stitched laces and two curved stripes near the tips.

Decorated Football with Stars and Swirls

One large tilted football fills the page, with five oval laces down the center and a stripe near each tip. Three outlined stars and two spiral swirls decorate the panels. The wide, open shapes make this an easy sheet to color.

Football Mandala with Helmets and Goalposts

A circular mandala with a tilted laced football in the center, ringed by six helmets alternating with six goalposts. An outer band holds 18 five-pointed stars. The helmet face masks have fine grid bars, while the stars and the ball are large, open shapes.

Footballs at a Glance

How the Game Works

American football is played by two teams with eleven players each on the field. Each team tries to bring the ball into the opponent’s end zone. A touchdown is worth six points, a field goal three, and the extra point after a touchdown one.

The field is 100 yards long between the two goal lines, which is about 91 meters. At each end there is an end zone of 10 yards. To move the ball forward, a team gets four tries, called downs, to gain ten yards. If it succeeds, it starts over with a fresh set of four.

Positions and Gear

Every player has a job. The quarterback throws the ball and directs the game. The running back carries it, and receivers catch passes. Linemen block, while linebackers and other defenders try to stop the run. Kickers and punters are the players who kick the ball.

Protective gear is required. Players wear a helmet with a face mask, shoulder pads, a mouth guard, padded pants and cleats. On the field you will also spot the referees in black and white striped shirts. When a rule is broken, they throw a yellow flag onto the grass.

From Pigskin to Flag Football

Footballs are still nicknamed pigskins. Long ago they were made from an inflated pig bladder wrapped in leather. Today they are made of leather or a composite material, but the nickname stuck. The sport itself grew out of soccer and rugby at American colleges in the late 19th century, and the first college game is dated to 1869.

Flag football is the version many kids know best. Nobody is tackled. Instead, a player pulls a ribbon from the runner’s belt. You can play it in a stadium, on a school field, in the park or in the backyard.

Before You Start Coloring

Plain printer paper works well for crayons and colored pencils. If you want to use markers or watercolors, a slightly heavier paper keeps the color from bleeding through. Put a spare sheet underneath when you use markers, so the table stays clean.

The PDFs are sized for A4. In the print dialog, choose actual size if your printer handles A4 and fit to page if you use US Letter paper. Check the preview once before printing a whole stack. Black and white mode saves ink, since every sheet is line art.

Choosing a sheet by age saves frustration:

• Toddlers: the big single objects, such as the helmet, the ball, the goal post and the belt. Thick lines and large areas are easy for small hands.
• Preschool and early elementary: the action scenes, such as the quarterback’s throw, the running back, the kickoff and the huddle.
• Older kids: the stadium and field scenes with many figures, where there is plenty of small detail to work through.

After Coloring: Craft Ideas

• Team poster: Color several helmets and players, cut them out and glue them on a big sheet of green paper to make your own field. Add white yard lines with a marker.
• Game day banner: Cut out finished helmets or footballs, punch two holes in each and thread them on string. Hang it across the room for a watch party or a birthday.
• Placemats: Glue a finished sheet onto a piece of colored construction paper and cover it with clear adhesive film. Every seat at the game day table gets its own.
• Invitations and cards: Fold a colored ball or helmet onto the front of a card and write a message inside. It works for invitations, thank you notes or a cheer for a young player.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these football coloring pages really free?

Yes. All 34 sheets are free to download and print for home, school and other non-commercial use. Click the picture to open the PDF and print as many copies as you need.

What age are the sheets for?

They cover a wide range. Toddlers do well with the big single objects like the helmet or the ball. Preschool and elementary school children enjoy the action scenes, and older children can take on the stadium scenes with lots of figures.

Which colors are correct for a football?

The ball is brown, the laces are white and the grass is green. Helmets and jerseys can be any color at all. The most fun comes from inventing colors for your own team, so let your child decide.

Can I use the pages in a classroom?

Yes. Teachers and coaches are welcome to print sheets for a class, a club or a game day celebration. They also pair well with a short talk about how the game works, for instance the positions or what the referee’s yellow flag means.

Do the sheets show team logos or jersey numbers?

No. The sheets show the sport without club emblems, and the yard lines carry no numbers. That leaves room for children to create their own team name, colors and numbers.

Which sheet is the best one to start with?

For a first try, the helmet is a good pick, since it has clear shapes and lots of room for color. Once that feels easy, move on to the quarterback’s throw or the leaping catch, and finish with the huddle or a stadium scene when you want something more detailed.

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.