NFL pre-season overtime rules, explains: How to decide on tie games compared to regular season, playoffs initially appeared in sports news
Preseason football is another round.
After a long look, fans first got to know their favorite NFL team, although major players are often limited to prevent unnecessary injuries. Of course, there is always a group of unproven players playing for their NFL livelihoods, and their intensity keeps the game close, often putting them in trouble.
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Although wins and losses are counted, the preseason result is ultimately irrelevant, adding another layer to the situation in the field nearing overtime.
Over the years, the NFL's overtime rules have evolved, and changes will change as preseason, regular season and playoff impacts. This is how to tie the game in preseason.
More: NFL rule changes overtime adjustments in 2025
NFL Overtime Rules 2025
Overtime rules for NFL preseason
There is no overtime in the NFL preseason. If the preseason tied at the end of the regulations, the game ended in a tie.
The change is made in 2021, prioritizing the health and safety of players, without any aspect of the game. Players can be evaluated from the first to the fourth quarter, and no additional period is required.
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With no overtime, these rules are very different from the regular season and playoff overtime rules.
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NFL overtime rules for regular season
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At the end of the regulation, the referee will throw the coin to determine which team will have the ball first in overtime. The visiting captain will defeat.
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The three-minute break will not exceed 10 minutes. Each team must have or have the chance to own the ball, rather than a team able to win the game by getting the first overtime score.
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Sudden Death Game – The game ends with any score (safety, shot or touchdown) – and continues until the winner.
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Each team has two timeouts.
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If the game ends with a touchdown, the point of view after trying is not attempted.
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If the score is still tied at the end of overtime, the result of the game will be recorded as a draw.
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There is no challenge to replay coach immediately; all comments will be initiated by replay officers.
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NFL overtime rules
The NFL has implemented new overtime rules for the playoffs in the 2023 playoffs.
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If the score is still tied at the end of overtime – or the second team's initial possession has not yet ended, the team will be in another overtime. The game will continue regardless of how much overtime the winner needs to determine.
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There will be two minutes of intervals between each additional period. There will be no half-time break after the second phase.
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The captain who lost the first overtime coin toss will choose to own the ball, or choose which goal his team will defend unless the team that won the coin toss will postpone the selection.
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Every team has the opportunity to have the ball in overtime.
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Each team earns three timeouts in halftime.
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The same timing rules applied at the end of the second and fourth provision periods also apply to the end of the second or fourth overtime.
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If there is still no winner at the end of the fourth overtime, the coin will be discarded again and the game will continue until the winner is announced.
History of NFL overtime rules
The first overtime game in NFL history took place on August 28, 1955. The Ram and Giant use the sudden death rule, which was invented by the game promoter Harry Glickman to determine the game. The Rams won the game, the overtime format was adopted and eventually used during the 1958 NFL Championship.
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The NFL moved forward with that model and then implemented a sudden overtime of the regular season 16 years later. In the original format, the team that earns any points in the first post won the game completely. This includes kicking out the winning goal.
This sudden death format continues to be the NFL's preferred overtime choice for 35 years.
In 2010, the league revised the rules of the playoffs. For the team that catches the ball first, a shot is no longer considered a sudden death inning. Only the first touchdown from the receiving team can end overtime without both teams getting all the teams.
It was expanded to preseason and regular season after two years of the playoffs.
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In 2017, the length of overtime hours changed from 15 minutes to 10 minutes.
In 2021, the NFL officially eliminated overtime from the preseason. Both changes are made in the name of player safety, as it limits the number of snapshots played in the game.
Finally, the latest overtime changes in the 2022 NFL ensure every team has the ball in the playoff game.
The sudden death only begins after the first team has all its touchdowns.