When Did the NFL Change Its Overtime Rules?

The NFL’s overtime rules have been a source of controversy for years. Some argue that the current system is unfair, while others believe it’s the best way to ensure a fair game. So when did the NFL change its overtime rules?

Introduction

In 2012, the National Football League (NFL) changed its overtime rules to allow each team the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime, provided that the team that possesses the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession, or if it scores a field goal on any subsequent possession. If the score is tied after each team has had one possession, or if both teams have had possessions and neither has scored, the game ends in a tie. This new rule replaced the old rule, which had been in place since 1974 and had been criticized for not giving both teams an equal chance to score.

The change was made in response to concerns that the old rule was unfair and resulted in too many games being decided by a “coin toss”. In the old system, each team could only win if it scored on its first possession of overtime. This meant that if the team that won the coin toss failed to score a touchdown on its first drive, it would almost certainly lose. The new system is designed to make it more likely that both teams will have a chance to score, and to increase the chances of the game being decided by a competitive battle rather than by a lucky break.

The Early Days of the NFL

In the early days of the NFL, there were no set overtime rules. The league experimented with several different methods, including a modified Kansas playoff system and a Page playoff system, before settling on the sudden death format in 1974. Under sudden death, the first team to score wins, regardless of how much time is left on the clock.

The 1970s and 1980s

The NFL overtime rules have undergone several changes since the league was founded in 1920. The most recent change came in 2012, when the league installed a modified sudden death format. Prior to that, the league used a system that guaranteed each team would get at least one possession in overtime, regardless of what happened on the initial possession.

The current overtime rules were instituted in 2012. In this system, each team gets one possession to score. If the score is tied at the end of those possessions, the game ends in a tie. This system is sometimes referred to as sudden death because it doesn’t guarantee both teams will get the ball. The previous overtime format did guarantee both teams would get at least one possession.

Prior to 2012, the NFL overtime rules were as follows: each team got one possession, regardless of what happened on the first possession. If the score was still tied after those possessions, then each team got another chance. This process continued until someone scored. So, if neither team scored on their first possessions, they would both get a second chance. If they both failed to score on their second chances, they would each get a third chance, and so on.

The 1990s

In the early 1990s, the NFL’s overtime rules changed to give each team a possession regardless of whether the first team to possess the ball scored or not. In other words, if the team that received the overtime kickoff scored a touchdown on its first drive, the other team would still get a chance to score. If that team also scored a touchdown, then the game would go into sudden death, where the first team to score would win.

The 2000s

In the 2000s, the NFL tweaked its overtime rules again. In 2002, the league implemented a 10-minute sudden death period in the preseason and regular season. If the score was still tied after that, the game would end in a tie. This rule change was made in an effort to prevent player injuries during long, overtime periods.

Then, in 2010, the NFL made another change to its overtime rules. This time, the league decided that if a team won the coin toss and scored a field goal on its first possession of overtime, the game would be over. However, if the team that won the coin toss didn’t score on its first possession or if it scored a touchdown, then the other team would have a chance to score. If both teams ended up scoring touchdowns on their first possessions, then it would become a traditional sudden death overtime period.

The most recent change to the NFL’s overtime rules came in 2012. Before 2012, if a team won the coin toss and scored a touchdown on its first possession of overtime, the game would be over. But now, if both teams end up scoring touchdowns on their first possessions of overtime, it will become a traditional sudden death overtime period.

The 2010s

In 2012, the NFL switched from using a 15-minute overtime period to a 10-minute sudden death format. The new rule was designed to reduce the amount of time players were on the field for an extra period, and to encourage teams to try for a touchdown rather than settle for a field goal.

Under the new format, if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on its first possession, the game is over. If it scores a field goal, or if the score is tied at the end of 10 minutes, then the game goes into sudden death. In sudden death, both teams get one possession each, and whoever scores first wins. If there’s still no winner after each team has had one possession (or if both teams score on their first possessions), then sudden death continues until there’s a winner.

The new overtime rules were used for the first time in 2012-13 regular season games, and they had an immediate impact. In 2011-12, there were 26 games that went into overtime; in 2012-13, there were just 13.

Conclusion

In 2012, the NFL changed its overtime rules to give each team a chance to possess the ball at least once in overtime, if the receiving team does not score a touchdown on its first possession. Prior to this change, the team that won the coin toss would usually win the game, since they could simply score a field goal on their first drive and then prevent the other team from ever touching the ball. This was seen as unfair, since the team that lost the coin toss never had a chance to score. The new overtime rules have made games more fair and exciting, and have resulted in more come-from-behind victories.