What Is an Octopus in NFL Football and How Does It Affect Betting?

When you gamble with crypto, it’s easy to stumble across some of the more exotic prop bets offered by modern sportsbooks. One of the quirkiest is the "octopus" – a rare but exciting event where a single player scores both a touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion, totaling exactly 8 points on one possession. This isn’t just a fun stat; it’s become a niche betting market with big upside. But what is an octopus in NFL football, and what does it mean to score an octopus in football? We’ll break it all down, including how a football octopus bet works and how crypto bettors are finding unique value in this market.

What Is An Octopus In Football Gambling?

Before we dive into the depths of football betting details, let's answer the question: what is an octopus bet in football? An octopus happens when the same player scores a touchdown and then scores the two-point conversion on the same drive. It’s an eight-point effort by one athlete – hence the name. While it’s not tracked as an official stat in the NFL, crypto and fiat sportsbooks have taken notice and built fun betting markets around it.

A football octopus bet typically appears as a prop bet during major games. Some books let you bet on whether any player will score an octopus (yes/no), while others offer odds on specific players to pull it off. Because it requires two successful plays in a row involving the same player, the octopus is rare, but the payoff can be sizable and justify the risks several times over, thanks to attractive odds.

How Common Is an Octopus in Football?

Have you ever wondered how common is an octopus in football? It is worth noting that octopus events are rare. Since the NFL introduced the two-point conversion in 1994, there have only been about 190 octopi recorded across tens of thousands of games. That puts the occurrence rate at roughly 2–3% of games, or once every 40–45 matchups, if you believe the statistics.

However, much to the surprise of many fans, in recent years the number has ticked up. Teams are more aggressive about going for two, and versatile offensive weapons are being used in both scoring roles. For example, the 2023 NFL season saw 11 octopi, above the historical average. This happens rarely, but the trend towards increasing frequency of such incidents in matches continues to be observed.

How Often Does an Octopus Happen in Football

Origins of the Octopus Term

The term octopus in this context was coined in 2019 by sportswriter Mitch Goldich. He was watching a 2018 game when Torrey Smith caught a touchdown and the subsequent two-point conversion, and he mused on social media that there should be a name for that rare combo. Goldich proposed the nickname “octopus” because it represented eight points. The term caught fire on social media and was eventually picked up by sportsbooks and commentators. It’s now a recognized part of football prop betting.

Although the stat itself dates back to 1994 (when the NFL introduced the 2-point conversion), according to Pro-Football-Reference, wide receivers Torrance Small and Rob Moore recorded the first two octopi on the same day in 1994. For over two decades, the feat had no catchy name, but now, thanks to Goldich, we have one. It wasn’t long before sportsbooks noticed the buzz and turned the octopus into a betting market around 2021. Since then, especially during big events like the playoffs and Super Bowl, the octopus bet has become a fun option for crypto bettors looking for something different.

Types of Octopus Bets and Odds

There are two primary types of octopus bets:

• Game-wide octopus props: Bet on whether any player will complete an octopus during a game. Payouts may fluctuate constantly, but usually range from +1400 to +2500, depending on the matchup.
  

• Player-specific props: Bet on a named player to score an octopus (especially in big games or with star players). These odds are longer will be even higher, often +3000 to +10000 or more, depending on the player’s role. The increased odds are entirely justified, as guessing a specific player is much more difficult than guessing whether an octopus will happen or not.

A $10 bet at +2000 odds brings $210 ($200 profit), and a +5000 bet at +5000 odds brings $510. 

In the 2023 Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts scored the first Super Bowl octopus, cashing in big for crypto users who had taken the +1400 “yes” bet. Bettors who took Jalen Hurts at +1400 made $150 on a $10 wager. This demonstrated the value in spotting the right opportunity, especially when you know what is an octopus in a football game.

Notable Octopus Moments and Players

Considering how infrequent octopi are, it’s no surprise that the list of players who have achieved one is relatively exclusive. But it’s also a who’s who of some pretty talented and versatile NFL stars. Here are some of the most notable octopus feats and records:

• Todd Gurley – 4 Octopi (All-Time Leader). Former Rams running back Todd Gurley holds the record with four career octopus performances. Remarkably, in the 2018 season alone, Gurley recorded 3 octopi – including two in a single game, becoming the first player ever to do so. And he notched a fourth the following year, making him the octopus king of the NFL.

• Randy Moss – 3 Octopi. Moss’s octopus instances came with his big-play flair – he had two with the Vikings (1998 and 2000) and one with the Patriots (2009). For many years, Moss held the record until Gurley’s 2018 explosion.

• Multiple 2-Time Achievers. There are over 20 players who have recorded two octopi in their careers. This list includes some huge names. For example, Hall of Fame running backs Terrell Davis and Jerome Bettis each had two. Stars like Calvin Johnson, Hines Ward, Isaac Bruce, and Edgerrin James also each pulled off two octopi. And among active/recent players, names like Antonio Brown, Alvin Kamara, and Mark Andrews have done it as well.
• First in NFL and Super Bowl History. After Rob Moore's first octopus in history, it took almost 30 years until Jalen Hurts of the Eagles ran in a touchdown and the subsequent two-point conversion in Super Bowl LVII in February 2023. Hurts’ octopus tied the game late in the fourth quarter, making for an unforgettable Super Bowl moment – and a winning prop bet for those who gambled on it. It remains the only Super Bowl octopus to date, as of 2025.

• Other Memorable Octopi. In 2018, Chargers receiver Mike Williams scored an octopus in a Week 15 game with just seconds left, turning a 7-point deficit into a 1-point lead (TD + 2p catch) to win the game – truly clutch. Octopi often occur in high-leverage situations like that, because teams usually attempt two-point conversions when the game is on the line. That’s part of what makes an octopus feel so momentous when it happens.

Despite the many names of football players listed who have gone down in history, it is worth remembering that the octopus is a rare phenomenon. It is for this reason that the situations when it happens are so memorable and appreciated by fans.

Strategies for Wagering on an Octopus Prop

To increase your chances, look at teams that frequently attempt two-point conversions and feature go-to players in the red zone. Dual-threat QBs like Jalen Hurts or mobile RBs are good candidates. Also consider game flow: high-stakes games or those with close spreads are more likely to feature two-point attempts, especially late.

For crypto bettors, flexibility is key. Many crypto sportsbooks allow small, experimental bets – perfect for a low-stakes, high-reward prop like this. Treat sport betting with crypto as entertainment, variety of available bonuses, and don’t overcommit your bankroll.

Octopus Betting: Final Thoughts

In the evolving world of NFL betting, the octopus stands out as a stat born on social media, now embraced by sportsbooks and crypto gamblers alike. The octopus is one of those delightful NFL quirks that bridges the worlds of betting enthusiasts. For fans, it’s a neat piece of trivia. For bettors, it’s a chance to put a few dollars on a longshot and dream about a big payout. 

Whether you’re betting with fiat or prefer to gamble with crypto, we’ve answered what is an octopus in football betting. It’s not just about hitting big odds, it’s about making the game more exciting, one eight-point play at a time.

So if you have the opportunity to try your luck on such an unusual bet, use our strategic tips, and may you get the football match that will go down in history as a new octopus!