This movie was made and released about six years after its source semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Peter Gent was published in 1973. The name of the football team in the movie is the North Dallas Bulls, loosely based on the real-life NFL Dallas Cowboys, for whom Gent played between 1964 and 1968.
According to writer Peter Gent, the role of Seth Maxwell (played Mac Davis) actually was offered to NFL player Don Meredith on whom the character is apparently based. B. A. Strothers (G.D. Spradlin) is based on Tom Landry, and Phillip Elliott (Nick Nolte) is based on wide receiver Peter Gent.
Source novelist and co-screenwriter Peter Gent once explained the story behind how the title was chosen. In an email interview, Gent said: "I was shocked that in 1964 America, Dallas could have an NFL franchise and the black players could not live near the practice field in North Dallas, which was one of the reasons I titled the book 'North Dallas Forty.' I kept asking why the white players put up with their black teammates being forced to live in segregated south Dallas, a long drive to the practice field. The situation was not changed until Mel Renfro filed a 'Fair Housing Suit' in 1969."
During a training camp in preparation for this movie, any actors or athletes who missed practice were fined.