There are several mathematical statistics used in football. The touchdown percentage is the touchdown passes divided by the pass attempts. The passer (quarterback) rating is determined by four elements and their statistical calculations: percent of completions, average yards gained per attempt, percentage of touch-down passes, and the percent of interceptions. The average is 1.0, the bottom is 0, and the maximum anyone can receive in any category is 2.375 (this is difficult; for a passer to gain 2.375 in completion percents, he would have to complete 77.5 percent of his passes). Those passers who earn a 2.0 rating or better are exceptional. For example, the National Football League ranks this at 70 percent in completions, 10 percent in touchdowns, 1.5 percent in interceptions, and 11 yards average gain per pass attempt.

Rushing is a statistic commonly heard after any football game on the after-game special. It is the average yards per carry (AVG), a number measured by the total yards divided by the attempts. In punting the net punting average (NET) is the gross punting yards, minus the return yards, minus 20 yards for every touchback, divided by the total punts.