Let’s be honest—NFL prop bets are where football betting gets fun.
Forget spreadsheets and advanced stats for a second. While point spreads and totals are the meat and potatoes of the sportsbook, prop bets? They’re the jalapeño cheese dip. A little wilder, a little more unpredictable—and a hell of a lot more fun to talk about the next day.
This article covers the most popular NFL prop bets of all time. Whether you’re a betting vet or just dipping a toe into the wild world of football wagering, this is your front-row seat to the most iconic props in NFL history.
What Are NFL Prop Bets?
Before we jump into the greatest hits, let’s break it down real quick for the rookies.
Prop bets—short for “proposition bets”—are wagers made on outcomes not directly tied to the final score. They’re like the Easter eggs of betting: hidden, fun, and sometimes totally ridiculous.
You’ll see two main types:
- Player Props: Betting on a player’s performance (e.g., Will Justin Jefferson go over 89.5 receiving yards?)
- Team/Game Props: Stuff like first team to score, number of sacks, or if the game goes to OT.
Then there are the novelty props—coin tosses, Gatorade colors, halftime show length. These started as Super Bowl sideshows and have grown into full-blown betting events.
The Rise of Prop Betting in the NFL
Prop bets weren’t always this big. In fact, they started as a bit of a gimmick.
The first real pop culture moment for NFL prop betting came in 1986, when sportsbooks offered odds on whether William “The Refrigerator” Perry would score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX. Spoiler: he did—and Vegas took a bath.
Since then, props have exploded.
The Super Bowl now offers over 600 prop bets, ranging from the coin toss to whether the broadcast will mention Taylor Swift (seriously). And during the regular season, every major sportsbook posts dozens of props per game, especially on stars like Patrick Mahomes, CeeDee Lamb, or Christian McCaffrey.
Why the boom? Two reasons:
- Entertainment factor: Casual fans love props because they’re easy to understand and fun to follow.
- DFS crossover: Daily fantasy sports made fans hyper-aware of player stats, and that translates naturally to player prop markets.
Most Popular NFL Prop Bets of All Time
Let’s get to the main event. These are the most popular NFL prop bets of all time—the ones that sportsbooks can’t stop offering, and fans can’t stop betting on.
1. Coin Toss (Super Bowl)
It’s the simplest bet in sports—heads or tails. But the Super Bowl coin toss draws millions in wagers every year.
- 50/50 odds
- No edge
- All vibes
What makes it so beloved? It’s the first action of the biggest game of the year. And for superstitious fans, it’s tradition.
Fun fact: Since 1999, tails has hit more often than heads in Super Bowls.
2. First Touchdown Scorer
The sweat on this one is real. You pick one player to score the first TD of the game, and with odds often ranging from +300 to +3000, there’s real upside.
This one’s exploded with the rise of red zone stars and goal-line backs. Bettors love backing tight ends like Travis Kelce or random gadget players for a juicy payout.
3. Anytime Touchdown Scorer
Less risky than “first TD,” but no less exciting. You just need your guy to score at any point in the game.
It’s become one of the most heavily bet markets, especially in parlays. A three-leg TD scorer combo is like catnip for bettors on Sundays.
4. Over/Under Passing Yards
Betting on QB yardage totals is a staple now. Mahomes, Allen, Hurts—you’ll find props on them every week.
Books usually set a number (say, 270.5 yards) and you pick over or under. Matchup research is key—but so is game script. A blowout can wreck an over. A comeback can make it.
5. Will There Be a Safety? (Super Bowl)
This one’s wild.
Odds for a safety are usually +800 or higher. But when it hits? It hits. The opening play of Super Bowl XLVIII? A botched snap for a safety. Payout city.
Bettors love this one because it’s rare, but not impossible.
6. Gatorade Shower Color
Pure chaos. Zero logic. Tons of action.
Every year, people bet on what color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach.
Options include:
- Orange
- Blue
- Yellow/Green
- Red
- Purple
- Clear (water)
Orange has hit most often historically. But it’s still basically roulette with electrolytes.
7. Total Touchdowns Scored
This one gives you action for both teams. Books will post a line like “Over/Under 5.5 total TDs.” Ideal for games with shootout potential.
It’s popular because it rides the whole game, and gives you a rooting interest on both sides.
8. MVP of the Super Bowl
Usually a quarterback wins it. But every year, bettors try to nail a longshot, like when Von Miller won in 2016 at 25-to-1.
It’s one of the oldest and most bet Super Bowl props. And when it hits on a WR, RB, or defensive player? The payouts are massive.
Super Bowl Prop Bets: A League of Their Own
Let’s be real: The Super Bowl is the Coachella of prop betting.
Sportsbooks go nuts. Fans go nuts. And weird stuff gets bet on.
Some all-time weird but popular Super Bowl props:
- Will the National Anthem go over 2:00?
- Will a fan run onto the field?
- What color will Rihanna’s hair be? (Yep.)
- How many times will the broadcast mention Tom Brady?
Why do people love these? Because the Super Bowl isn’t just a game—it’s a full-blown cultural event. And prop bets are how fans turn every moment into a sweat.
Craziest NFL Prop Bets That Actually Hit
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane with some legendary props that cashed:
✔️ The Refrigerator TD (Super Bowl XX)
As mentioned earlier, William Perry to score a TD was offered at +2000. When he punched it in, bettors went ballistic—and Vegas learned a lesson.
✔️ Safety on First Play (Super Bowl XLVIII)
Seahawks-Broncos. First play: high snap, ball into the end zone. Safety.
It hit at +4000. One of the wildest starts to a Super Bowl ever—and one of the biggest prop cashes.
✔️ Purple Gatorade (Super Bowl LV)
Almost no one picked it. Purple hadn’t been used in over a decade. But when it rained purple Gatorade on Bruce Arians, the bettors who backed it cashed big.
✔️ Defensive Player MVP (Super Bowl 50)
Von Miller’s MVP win at +2500 gave defensive prop bettors a rare W. Since then, people chase defensive MVPs every year, mostly in vain.
Why These Bets Became So Popular
Prop bets are more than just sideshows now. Here’s why they’ve taken over the NFL betting scene:
1. Entertainment Value
Props make every play matter. Whether it’s a 3-yard screen or a garbage-time TD, you’re glued to the action.
2. Parlay Potential
Parlays of TD scorers or player yardage totals can turn $10 into $250+. That dream shot makes them addicting.
3. Fantasy Football Crossover
If you’re already watching your fantasy RB rack up yards, why not bet the over? Props align perfectly with fantasy fandom.
4. Casual-Friendly
You don’t need to understand line movement or advanced stats. Props are intuitive and fun.
5. Social Sharing
Prop bets are made for screenshots and Twitter brags. Hit a +1400 first TD pick? You’re posting it.
Final Thoughts
From coin toss calls to player yardage sweats to the madness of Gatorade colors, prop bets have rewritten how we experience the NFL. They’ve taken center stage—not just in sportsbooks, but in the way we talk about games, watch games, and root for players.
And as the NFL leans further into betting, expect the list of popular prop bets to keep growing.
Because in today’s football world, it’s not just about who wins. It’s about who scores first. What color the drink is. And who dances in the end zone.
That’s the magic of NFL prop betting. And the reason the most popular NFL prop bets of all time will keep pulling us back every Sunday.