NFL Owners Agree To Make Much-Needed Change To Regular Season Overtime Rules For 2025

*Fred Warner and Patrick Mahomes during overtime coin toss. (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)*

Overtime rules in the NFL have likely changed forever.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL’s owners have passed a rule that will allow both teams to possess the ball during extra time during the regular season.

One thing that will not change is the extra session remaining 10 minutes in length despite the original proposal for a 15-minute overtime period.

The owners also voted to expand the league’s replay-assist system, per Schefter.

According to the NFL media, the Eagles proposed aligning the regular-season overtime rules with the postseason rules, potentially eliminating ties in NFL games.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The NFL’s owners have passed a rule change that will allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime during the regular season, per @DMRussini

The overtime period will remain just 10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/o0S1hWriog
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 1, 2025

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As the rule currently states, overtime in the regular season is ten minutes, and if both teams haven’t scored, the game ends in a tie.

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NFL clubs voted on Tuesday’s proposed rule changes, and the owners approved the measure.

“The current rules give both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime,” the NFL states on its website.

“Although, during the regular season, if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession, they win.”

That last part is huge since the importance of winning the coin toss to start overtime isn’t nearly as high as it once was.

There Have Been many Changes To Overtime Rules In The Past Few Years

NFL footballs on field — *NFL footballs (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)*

In 2017, NFL clubs approved shortening overtime in the regular season to 10 minutes from 15. The rule change was intended to improve player safety.

In 2022, the NFL changed its postseason overtime rules to ensure both teams had at least one possession. This change came about in response to the Chiefs’ 42-36 overtime win over the Bills in the 2022 AFC divisional round, in which the Bills never got a chance to possess the ball.

Now, we have yet another change in 2025.

Also Read: REPORT: Colts Proposed A Major Change To NFL’s Overtime Rules