1976 in football

American football

 * Super Bowl X (January 18) – Pittsburgh Steelers won 21-17 over the Dallas Cowboys
 * Lee Roy Selmon is selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. (April 8)
 * Seattle Seahawks founded.
 * Tampa Bay Buccaneers founded.
 * Orange Bowl (1975 season):
 * The Oklahoma Sooners won 14-6 over the Michigan Wolverines to win the college football national championship
 * Tony Dorsett is awarded the Heisman Trophy (November 30).