Eyeshield 21 is a shounen sports manga series about American football created by Inagaki Riichiro (story) and Murata Yuusuke (art). It started its serialization in Weekly Shounen JUMP (Shueisha) in 2002 and so far it's got 220+ chapters (called downs) and 23+ volumes.

The namesake of the series is Kobayakawa Sena, or rather, his secret American football high school star alter ego, Eyeshield 21. Sena is a weak-built boy, who's been bullied all his life and hasn't ever been able to stand for himself.

However, soon after entering Deimon High School, he's scouted by one Hiruma Youichi, better known as the devilish blackmail-enthusiast captain and quaterback of the school's American football team, the Deimon Devilbats. He's noticed Sena running away from some bullies and decides the boy's got the potential to become an amazing running back.

But actually, there's only two official members in the Deimon Devilbats (three, after Sena joins). The other one is Kurita Ryoukan, an old friend of Hiruma before they entered Deimon. Their dream is to win the championship and make it to Japan's Christmas Bowl, whatever means needed. And since Deimon forbids extracurricular activities after 2nd year, they're in a bit of a hurry.

Hiruma considers Sena his secret weapon, and that's why he decides to disguise him as Eyeshield 21, keeping his identity secret from most people, including Anezaki Mamori, also a 2nd year and a mother-like figure to Sena who'd become the team's manager.

And thus, the Devilbats' race against time begins. Fortunately, after Sena joins, they begin to slowly but surely complete their team (Raimon "Monta" Tarou, Juumonji Kazuki, Kuroki Kouji, Toganou Shouzou, Yukimitsu Manabu and Komusubi Daikichi among others), but also they start encountering stronger and stronger rivals.

Starting April 6th 2005, an animated version produced by NAS began airing across Japan on TV Tokyo. It's still on-going with more than 100 episodes aired. Also, an 30 minutes animated movie by Production I.G. was shown at JUMP Festa in 2004 with a different cast of seiyuus (voice actors).