How Many Calories Do You Burn When You Play Football?

Running Back behind Linemen

Whether you're out on the field for the team or simply playing a game with the family after Thanksgiving dinner, football gets you moving. You'll burn a significant number of calories passing the ball, sprinting down the field and blocking opponents in a full-contact game. Play more tame versions of the game and burn fewer calories.

Full Contact

A 200-pound person playing full contact burns about 438 calories per 30 minutes. If you weigh less, you burn fewer calories and if you weigh more, you burn more. For example, a 150-pound player burns 328 calories and a 220-pound player burns 482 calories in the same 30 minutes.

Touch and Catch

A game of touch football burns fewer calories than full contact. In 30 minutes of play, a 200-pound person burns 396 calories, while a 150-pound person burns 297 calories. Tossing the ball around in the backyard, a 200-pound person burns 114 calories and a 150-pound person burns 86.