American football is hugely popular in the USA, although many confuse it with rugby. One of the most outstanding players in this game is considered to be Frederick Biletnikoff, who was included by Americans in the list of the 100 greatest football players of the 20th century. Notably, Frederick has direct Russian roots: he was born in 1943 to the children of Russian emigrants who left Russia during the Civil War. Biletnikoff began to take an interest in sports in school, particularly excelling in football. This led to him being invited to the college team while studying at the University of Florida. Although Frederick did not possess impressive size and physical strength, his strengths were tactical cunning, agility, and speed. Soon he became the captain of the university team, and at the age of 22, he received an invitation to the professional club Oakland Raiders, where his talent fully blossomed.

Biletnikoff was virtually elusive on the field. He skillfully positioned himself for passes, deftly caught balls, and easily evaded defenders. It later turned out that before matches he would apply glue to his hands to prevent the ball from slipping. Additionally, Frederick played without knee pads, which was considered dangerous, but he claimed they hindered his maneuverability and jumping ability. Thanks to his play, the Oakland Raiders repeatedly became champions of the USA, and in the Super Bowl, Biletnikoff, a descendant of Russian emigrants, delivered an outstanding performance, scoring three touchdowns in a game, which is equivalent to a hat-trick in regular football.

Throughout his career, Frederick was named the league's best player six times. He retired in 1980 but remained in football, coaching young players at his home club, the Oakland Raiders, and only later retired for good. In 1988, while still alive, Biletnikoff was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame.