When Did NFL Teams Start Deferring?

A look at when NFL teams started deferring after winning the coin toss, and how it has changed the way teams approach the start of the game.

The History of Deferring

In the NFL, deferring is the act of giving up the opportunity to possess the ball first in exchange for the chance to possess the ball second half. The team that defers must kick off to start the game. The idea behind deferring is to gain an advantage by knowing what the other team will do before having to make a decision.

Deferring was first used in the 1940s

The first recorded use of the word “defer” in the context of an American football game was in the October 16,1927, edition of The New York Times, which reported on a game between Columbia and Pennsylvania: “Neither team could score in the first half, but after fifteen minutes of play in the last period Pennsylvania had the ball on Columbia’s three-yard line. First down and goal to go. Rather than risk losing the ball on downs, Pennsylvania’s coach, George Munger, elected to defer.”

The strategy of deferring was not used again in major college football until almost two decades later. On September 28, 1946, in a game between Penn State and West Virginia University, Penn State deferred after winning the coin toss. West Virginia went on to score a touchdown on its opening drive, but Penn State came back to win the game 13-7.

The use of deferring gradually increased in college football over the next few decades as more teams began to realize its potential benefits. In recent years, it has become increasingly common for teams to defer after winning the coin toss in hopes of getting the ball back with better field position later in the game.

In 2007, the NFL introduced a new rule that allowed teams to defer their choice until after they had seen what their opponent would do with the ball first. This change made it even more advantageous for teams to defer, since they could now make their decision based on how their opponents were likely to perform.

Since then, deferring has become common practice in the NFL, with most teams opting to do so when they win the coin toss.

Deferring became more popular in the 1970s

Although the origins of deferring are unclear, it is generally believed that it became more popular in the 1970s. According to one report, the practice spread after the 1972 Miami Dolphins—the only team to complete a perfect season in NFL history—began deferring after winning the coin toss. The team’s head coach, Don Shula, reportedly wanted his team to have the ball to start the second half so they could make any necessary adjustments.

The strategy worked for the Dolphins, who went on to win Super Bowl VII. However, it’s important to note that deferring was far from common at that time—in fact, less than 10 percent of teams were doing it. But as word spread about its success, more and more teams began adopting the practice.

Today, deferring has become so commonplace that it’s difficult to imagine a time when teams didn’t do it. In fact, many coaches have adopted a “default” strategy of deferring if they win the coin toss. But as with anything in football, there is no sure-fire winning formula—so coaches must always be prepared to make a strategic decision on whether to defer or not.

How Deferring Works

In the NFL, deferring is the act of giving up the option to receive the opening kickoff in exchange for the option to receive the opening kickoff in the second half. The team that defers is said to have “deferred” to the other team. The team that defers does so because it believes it will have a better chance of winning if it can receive the ball to start the second half.

The team that wins the coin toss can choose to defer

The team that wins the coin toss can choose to defer, which means they can choose to kick off to start the second half. This option didn’t exist until the NFL changed its rules in 1972.

If you defer, the other team gets to choose whether to receive or kick off. Some teams like to defer so they can get the ball at the start of the second half, while others feel it gives their opponents an advantage.

You can only defer if you win the coin toss at the start of the game. If you lose the coin toss, you won’t be able to defer and will have to choose whether to receive or kick off.

The team that defers gets the ball to start the second half

In the NFL, there is an option to defer the opening kickoff to the start of the second half. The team that defers gets the ball to start the second half. If both teams score on their opening possessions, then the team that defers will get the ball back with good field position.

The reason for deferring is to try and get an advantage in field position. By deferring, a team can give their defense a chance to rest while their opponents have to go out and play.

This strategy became popular in the late 1990s when Mike Holmgren was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had one of the best defenses in the league, and they would often defer to give their defense a chance to catch its breath.

Now, almost every team in the NFL uses this strategy at some point during the season. It has become a standard part of football strategy.

Why Do Teams Defer?

The decision to defer happens before the coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss can either choose to receive the opening kickoff or defer to the second half. Most teams choose to defer because they would rather have the ball to start the second half. This gives them a chance to regroup after halftime and make adjustments.

Deferring gives the team an extra possession

In the NFL, each team has two ways to start each half of play: by kicking off or by deferring. The team that wins the coin toss can elect to start on offense or defense, or they can choose to defer their decision until the second half.

The main reason for deferring is because it gives the team an extra possession. If a team defers and then scores a touchdown on their opening drive, they get the ball back immediately after halftime. This can be a big advantage, especially if the opposing team is not able to score on their first drive.

Another reason for deferring is that it allows the team to choose which side of the field they want to start on. This can be helpful if one side of the field is playing better than the other, or if there is a strong wind blowing in one direction.

Finally, deferring can be used as a strategy to keep the other team from getting a possession. If a team knows that their offense is not playing well, they may elect to defer so that their opponent starts with the ball. This way, the team can try to make some adjustments at halftime and then take over on offense when they have a better chance of scoring.

Deferring can help the team get better field position

Deferring can help the team get better field position. By deferring, the team allows the other team to receive or kick off first, but they get to choose which end of the field they want to defend. This can be beneficial if the other team is expected to have a strong offence, as the team can choose to defend the goal line that is closer to their own end zone.

Are There Any drawbacks to Deferring?

NFL teams have the option to defer when winning the coin toss for the first half. This means that the team can choose to start the game on defense or offense. The team that deferred will start the second half on offense. Most teams choose to defer because it gives them the chance to start the game on defense. However, there are a few drawbacks to deferring.

If the other team scores, the team that deferred will be behind

If the other team scores, the team that deferred will be behind. If you defer and the other team doesn’t score, then you put your own offense in a hole. In a close game, this could be the difference between winning and losing.

If the other team scores first, the team that deferred will be at a disadvantage

If the other team scores first, the team that deferred will be at a disadvantage. The team that didn’t defer will have the ball back with a chance to score, while the team that deferred will have to wait until the second half to get another crack at scoring.

There’s also the risk that the team that deferred will never get the ball back. If the other team scores a touchdown on their opening drive and then kicks a field goal on their second drive, they’ll be up 14-0. At that point, the team that deferred may start to regret their decision.

Of course, there’s always the chance that the team that deferred will score on their first drive of the second half and take the lead. But in general, deferring puts a lot of pressure on a team’s defense to keep them in the game.