(NEXSTAR) — Regardless of whether you’re an avid NFL watcher or this is your rookie viewing season, there’s a piece of the field you’re probably pretty comfortable with: the goalposts.

They’re bright yellow and found on both ends of the field. Kicking the ball through the goalposts will result in either an extra point or three, and missing the 18-foot-6-inch opening will cause gasps or cheers, depending on which team you’re cheering for.

But, like many things in the NFL, the goalposts have evolved over time.

Initially, the placement and design of NFL goalposts in the late 1890s was inspired by rugby, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They appeared as an H-shape, and were located on the goal line. In the slideshow below, you can see a modern rugby field and a shot of a football field (albeit, a collegiate field) in 1912 on the right. You can see in both that goalposts are located on the line before the end zone (or try zone, in rugby).

• Belfast , United Kingdom - 25 October 2023; An aerial view of the newly installed 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
• Historical College Football games: Georgetown University vs. Carlisle ca. 1912. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In the late 1920s, the NFL pushed its goalposts to the end line, the back line of the end zone, like we see today. This was in accordance with NCAA rules, which the NFL was following at the time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame explains.

That led to fewer field goals and more tied games, though, according to the

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