Released in October 1978.
2 versions were released; this 2-Player model and another for 4 players as "
Atari Football [4-Player model]".
Atari Football was first created in 1974 by Steve Bristow and originally called 'X's and O's'. It was shelved when Bristow started on "
Tank", then resurrected 3 years later. This game was the first true video sports game and also the first Atari game to utilize a trackball controller.
Approximately 14,000 '2-player' versions were produced.
An Atari Football unit appears in the 1980 movie 'Midnight Madness', and 2 Atari Football units (2 and 4 players) appear in the 1982 movie 'Tron'.
An Atari Football machine was shown at the 2003 classic arcade games show 'California Extreme' in San Jose, California.