The football coin toss is a pre-game ritual used to determine possession and field choice at the start of a game and any potential overtime periods.
In American football, the referee meets with team captains at midfield, and the visiting team’s captain calls “heads” or “tails” before the coin is flipped. The coin must land on the ground to determine the result.
The team that wins the toss has four options:
- Kick off to start the game.
- Receive the opening kickoff.
- Defer their choice until the start of the second half.
- Choose which end of the field to defend in the first quarter.
If the winning team defers, the losing team then chooses between receiving the kickoff, kicking off, or choosing a field direction. At the start of the second half, the team that did not make the initial choice gets to choose between kicking off or receiving.
- Deferring is a common strategy, allowing a team to receive the kickoff at the start of the second half. This can lead to back-to-back scoring opportunities if they score late in the first half and again at the start of the second. It can also help establish momentum after halftime and allows for adjustments based on the first half.
- Receiving First can be used by teams aiming for a quick start and early score.
- Choosing Field Direction is important when weather conditions such as wind or sun glare are a factor.
In the NFL, a coin toss also occurs before overtime, with the winner choosing to receive the kickoff or the side of the field. NFL overtime rules have evolved; starting in the 2025 regular season, both teams are guaranteed a possession unless the first team scores a touchdown, after which sudden death applies. In the playoffs, both teams get at least one possession, and play continues until a winner is determined. College football overtime is different, with each team getting a possession from the opponent’s 25-yard line.
While the coin toss is a 50/50 event, the strategic decisions made by the winning team can impact the game’s flow and outcome.
What is the coin flip in football?
Before the game starts, and before the start of extra time (when played), the referee calls the two captains together for the coin toss to decide which team will take the kick-off. If the captain who wins the coin toss: chooses which goal to attack in the first half, the other team takes the kick-off.
Does the NFL still do a coin toss?
While the Super Bowl is played at a neutral site each year, there are still “home” and “away” teams. Just like all other NFL games, the away team gets to choose between heads and tails for the opening coin toss.
How to do coin toss football?
From my experience, Coin Toss Procedure: Before the game, the referee conducts a coin toss with the two team captains present. The team that wins the toss gets to choose either to receive the kickoff or to select which goal to defend. Captains’ Responsibility: Generally, it is the responsibility of the team captains to call the toss.
Do they flip a coin every NFL game?
The coin toss seems like it should be the most simple part of a football game, right? Every NFL game starts with one of these.