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Gridiron football is a term that refers to both American football and Canadian football. The term came about after it was observed that the field of play in each sport, because of the many lines marking it, resembles a gridiron.

The word "gridiron" alone may refer either to the field or to the sport; however, in North America it's usually only used to refer the field. In some other English-speaking countries--particularly Australia and New Zealand--it is the primary term used to refer to the sport, differentiating it from other forms of football such as Australian rules football, association football (soccer), or rugby football. In the film and TV industries a gridiron is a grid made of steel and/ or iron pipes

In recent years the term has come to be used much more liberally in American Football. John Madden for example uses it to refer to the game itself. "Lets get back to the gridiron" is a type of phrase he and other announcers use when play resumes after a timeout or commercial break. This and other terms are used to glorify the tactics and strategies used in American Football to almost war-like stature.