The coin toss is a pre-game ritual in the NFL that determines which team gets the initial choices for the game’s start.
Here’s how it works:
- Three minutes before the kickoff, the referee meets with the team captains at the center of the field. Up to six captains per team are permitted.
- The visiting team captain calls “heads” or “tails” before the referee flips the coin.
- If the toss winner doesn’t defer their decision to the second half, they must choose one of two options. The team that loses the toss receives the remaining choice.
– Receive or kick the opening kickoff.
– Choose which goal to defend in the first quarter (teams switch ends after the first and third quarters).
- Deferring: If the team that wins the toss chooses to defer, they postpone their choice to the start of the second half. The team that lost the toss then makes the choice for the first half. Usually, this means the team that loses the toss will elect to receive the kickoff to start the game.
In overtime, a coin toss is also used to determine which team will possess the ball first. In regular-season overtime, each team must have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession. If the game remains tied after each team has had a chance to possess the ball, the game becomes sudden death, and the next team to score wins. In playoff overtime, both teams are guaranteed at least one possession, and play continues until a winner is determined.
How does the coin toss work in the NFL?
When the coin toss is called, the winning team can pick whether they want to kick or receive the ball to start off the game. Oftentimes, the winning team will let the losing team pick instead.
What is the new NFL coin toss rule?
Thanks for asking. Starting in 2025, both teams will get to possess the ball in overtime no matter what happens on the first drive. Teams that won the coin toss in overtime have a 30-17-2 record since 2022: 12-4 W-L in 2024, 5-8 in 2023, 13-5-2 in 2022. No NFL game has ended in a tie over the last two seasons.
What are the rules of the coin toss?
From my experience, Either beforehand or when the coin is in the air, an interested party declares “heads” or “tails”, indicating which side of the coin that party is choosing. The other party is assigned the opposite side. Depending on custom, the coin may be caught; caught and inverted; or allowed to land on the ground.
What are the rules for the NFL clock?
Good point! In most cases the play clock is set to 40 seconds following the conclusion of the previous. Play during this time teams can make substitutions. Call plays and line up in a new formation.