When a Team Doesn't Play, Why is It Called a Bye Week? (2024)

The Seahawks had a bye last week but it seems like it's been a month! I know what a bye week is, I just want to know why it's called that. If you Google it, you'll find several explanations on NFL teams that have a "bye" in the first round of the play offs and such...BUT WHY IS IT CALLED THAT?

I think I found the answer. Because it's borrowed from another country, no wonder it doesn't make total sense to us. There's a conversation about it on Reddit NFL that believes the word 'bye' comes from the game cricket. If a score is made due to a wild pitch or a situation where the bat never hit the ball, that run is a bye.

To put it simply, if you advance without doing anything, it's a bye.

Still confused? Me too kinda. LOL