what is an octopus in nfl

In the NFL, an octopus is a specific scoring feat: it’s when the same player scores a touchdown and then also scores the ensuing two‑point conversion on that same drive, giving that one player all 8 points on the possession (6 + 2, like an octopus’s eight limbs).

Quick Scoop: What is an octopus in NFL?

• The player must score the touchdown personally (rushing or receiving, not just throwing a pass).

• On the very next play, that same player must also score the two‑point conversion (again by running or catching the ball into the end zone).

• When that happens, that player is credited with an “octopus” because they were responsible for all eight points on that drive.

A simple story version:
Imagine a wide receiver catches a touchdown pass, the team goes for two instead of kicking the extra point, and that same receiver catches the two‑point conversion. That series is called an octopus because that one player “owns” the full eight points.

Why people talk about it now

• It’s a relatively new stat/term popularized in the last few years by writer Mitch Goldich and has become a fun niche thing for fans and betting conversations.

• Sports betting sites now even offer “octopus” props, where you can bet on whether any player will pull off this 8‑point combo in a given game like the Super Bowl.

• It’s rare, so when someone hits an octopus (like Jalen Hurts doing it in Super Bowl 57), it becomes a talking point on broadcasts and forums.

In forum and social media talk, when you see “octopus” in an NFL thread, they’re almost always talking about this eight‑point scoring combo, not the sea creature.

TL;DR: An octopus in the NFL is when one player scores a touchdown and then the two‑point conversion right after, giving that single player all 8 points on the drive.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.