When Did the NFL Overtime Rules Change?

The NFL overtime rules have changed a few times throughout the years. The most recent change happened in 2017. Here’s a look at the NFL overtime rules history.

Introduction

The current NFL overtime rules were installed in 2010. Before that, the game would go into sudden death overtime if the score was tied at the end of regulation time. This meant that the first team to score in overtime would win the game, regardless of how many points they scored or how long it took them to do it.

The new NFL overtime rules state that each team must have the opportunity to possess the ball at least once during overtime, unless the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on their first drive. If both teams have had possession and the score is still tied, then the game will proceed into sudden death overtime.

Some people believe that these new rules make the game fairer, as both teams now have an equal chance to win in OT. However, others argue that it just makes games longer and more drawn out, as both teams now know that they will definitely get at least one possession in OT.

The sudden death rule

In 1993, the NFL’s overtime rules changed to the current “sudden death” format. In sudden death overtime, the first team to score wins the game, regardless of how many possessions each team has had. If neither team scores in the first overtime possession, or if both teams score field goals on their first possessions, the game continues in sudden death format until one team scores a touchdown.

The new overtime rules

In 2012, the NFL changed its overtime rules in the hopes of reducing the number of tie games. The new rules state that if the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on its first possession, the game is over. However, if the team that wins the coin toss kicks a field goal, the other team gets a chance to score. If both teams score field goals, or if one team scores a touchdown and the other team kicks a field goal, then the game goes into sudden death overtime.

Why the NFL changed the overtime rules

In 2017, the NFL approved a rules change that would affect how overtime is played during the regular season. Prior to this change, the overtime period was fifteen minutes long and each team was guaranteed at least one possession. The new overtime rules are as follows:

-The overtime period is now ten minutes long.
-Each team is guaranteed one possession, unless the team that wins the coin toss scores a touchdown on its first drive. In that case, the game immediately ends.

How the new overtime rules have affected the NFL

Since the NFL adopted the new overtime rules in 2012, there have been some interesting changes. In the past, there were few if any regulation games that ended in a tie, but now it happens with some regularity. This is because the new rules state that each team must have a chance to possess the ball at least once in overtime, even if the first team to possess the ball scores a touchdown.

What this means is that teams are now more likely to play for a tie in overtime, rather than risk losing the game by going for a win. This has led to some criticism of the new rules, but overall they seem to be working well.