In the National Football League (NFL), a coin flip determines which team gets to make the initial choices at the start of a game and overtime.
Here’s a breakdown of the coin toss procedure:
- When it happens: The coin toss takes place at midfield approximately three minutes before the scheduled kickoff.
- Who participates: The referee and captains from both teams are present for the coin toss. Up to six captains per team are allowed at the coin toss ceremony, but only one from the visiting team makes the call, and only one from the winning team declares the option.
- The call: The captain of the visiting team calls “heads” or “tails” while the coin is in the air.
- Winning the toss: The team that correctly calls the coin toss wins the toss.
- The winner’s choices: The winning team then has the option to choose one of the following:
– Kick off: Their team will kick the ball to start the game.
– Receive: Their team will receive the kick to start the game.
– Defer: They choose to defer their choice to the second half, allowing the opposing team to choose for the first half.
– Choose a goal to defend: They can pick which end of the field they wish to defend during the first and third quarters.
- The loser’s choices: The team that loses the coin toss gets the remaining choice. For example, if the winner chooses to defer, the loser can then decide to kick off or receive the opening kickoff.
- Second half: The team that did not make the initial choice (either because they deferred or lost the toss) gets the first choice at the start of the second half.
Overtime Coin Toss:
In the regular season and postseason, a coin toss is held at the beginning of the overtime period to determine initial possession. The visiting team’s captain calls the toss. In the regular season, if the score is still tied after the 10-minute overtime period, the game ends in a tie. In the postseason, ties are not possible, and teams continue playing until a winner is determined. Starting in 2025, regular season overtime rules now guarantee both teams an opportunity to possess the ball in overtime, even if the first team scores a touchdown. If the score is tied after both teams have possessed the ball, the next team to score wins.
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.
Has there ever been a coin toss in the NFL?
Across the first 58 Super Bowls, the coin toss landed tails 30 times and heads 28 times. The longest ever streak for one result went from Super Bowl XLIII to Super Bowl XLVII, when it landed heads five straight times. There have been three stretches in which the Super Bowl coin toss landed tails four straight times.
Who calls the coin flip NFL?
Thanks for asking. As per current NFL rules, the captains of both teams meet at the 50-yard line before kickoff to decide who will start with the ball. The visiting team’s captain traditionally gets to call “heads” or “tails” as the referee flips the coin.