NFL Rush Zone is an American action-adventure animated television series. In the first season, the show centers on an 11-year-old football fan named Ish, who learns he must protect shards of a power source called "The Core", hidden at 32 NFL stadiums. The first season ended on February 5, 2011 with a double length episode. Nickelodeon announced a second season, titled NFL Rush Zone: Season of the Guardians on September 6, 2012; it premiered on November 30, 2012. The third season, NFL Rush Zone: Guardians Unleashed, was announced on July 11, 2013; it premiered on November 20, 2013 and ended on October 22, 2014. The series ended on an apparent cliffhanger with Wild Card's escape and vowing to return, indicating that a fourth season was planned. However, the season ultimately never materialized.

Ish must protect one or more NFL team's Core shards from the villainous intergalactic alien cyborg warlord and conqueror Sudden Death every Sunday while trying not to be caught by his mom. He protects the shards with the help of OT and the Rusherz.

One year after the defeat of Sudden Death, Ish has moved from San Diego to Canton, Ohio, and soon finds his role as a Guardian expanded with new powers and the emergence of the villainous Wild Card. With the aid of his old friend Ash and new friends Troy, Tua, Marty, and later, Ricky, Ish must protect the 32 Megacores of the NFL from Wild Card, while also diving into the villain's mysterious past.

Wild Card has been defeated, but at the cost of Ish losing his Guardian powers. Having been the first Guardian, Ish is hit hard by this loss, while a newly resurfaced Sudden Death looks to continue where he left off, with three robotic aliens called Anticorians, who have had a sworn rivalry with the Rusherz, and perhaps with the help of a now vulnerable Ish. Ish, however soon regains his powers, and he and his friends have theirs upgraded for the re-match against Sudden Death and his allies the Anti-Corians, as well as the returns of Wild Card and Drop Kick.

Ishmael "Ish" Taylor – A natural-born leader of African-American descent. He is hip, funny, smart, insightful, caring and brave. He loves video games and football and has a winning personality that endears him to his community. Ish was the very first Guardian, and lived in San Diego, California in the first season. In the second season, Season of the Guardians, Ish is now 11 years old, and living with his family in their new home of Canton, Ohio, and is captain of his local football team. With more training and experience than before, he is able to manifest a power armor with various abilities that consists of a football uniform and helmet via his new NFL-R watch with an inserted shield coin by shouting "Enter the Rush Zone!" and turning the dial his Guardian codename is QB1. He is soon joined by a new team of Guardians with similar power armors, including his old friend Ash, and works together with them to protect the 32 Megacores from the evil Wild Card's clutches. In the second season finale, he sacrificed his Guardian powers to defeat Wild Card. His powers later returned and upgraded in the third season, Guardians Unleashed. His favorite team is the San Diego Chargers. He is voiced by Joshua Jackson in the first season, and Malachi Cohen in the second and third seasons.

Ashley "Ash" Reynolds – A tomboyish Caucasian redhead with freckles and green eyes, she is a good student and athlete. During the first season, she was under Sudden Death's spell, and only befriended Ish initially under his orders, but soon genuinely came to like him, and overcame Sudden Death's power to help Ish defeat him. In the second season, Ash is 11 years old, has reformed and is looking to redeem herself. She lost her mother a few years ago, and is now being raised by Charles Reynolds, her loving, and sometimes overprotective father. She is the brains of the group – complex plays or stats are easy for her, Her Guardian codename is PK2. Her favorite team is the New England Patriots. She is voiced by Marisa Kreiss (daughter of head writer Nick Kreiss) in the first season, and by Sonic Boom Star Nika Futterman in the second and third seasons.

Troy Kang – A fun-loving and daring, slightly arrogant and hot-headed Korean-American 11-year-old boy who often leaps before he looks. But he is also incredibly loyal and dependable, especially when bravery is needed. Troy is a terrific athlete, but often he struggles to keep his grades up and is under constant pressure from his parents to do so. Being a Guardian teaches him to be a better team player his Guardian codename is WR3, and someone who can share the spotlight and put the needs of others first. His favorite team is the New Orleans Saints. He is voiced by Power Rangers star Johnny Yong Bosch.

Tua Tupola – An 11-year-old Samoan-American from a family that is completely into football. He is the muscle and heart of the team. Because Tua is a boy of few words, people sometimes underestimate his intelligence, but he is actually very smart. He is warm, caring, insightful, thoughtful, and a straight shooter. He can be shy and a little insecure, but don't get him mad – he is a fierce fighter and a terrific football player. He is laid-back and easy-going, but being a Guardian teaches him the importance of practice and persistence his Guardian codename is T4. His favorite team is the Chicago Bears. He is voiced by Butt Ugly Martians Star Ogie Banks.