When both teams have the same score after one ten-minute overtime period in the National Football League (NFL), the game is declared tied.
Since 1972, ties have been counted as a half-win and half-loss in league standings; prior to that, ties were not taken into consideration at all.
NFL teams hardly ever play to a tie. NFL teams, as well as fans, generally dislike ties in games.
Due to the rarity of tied games, some players were unaware that they were permitted in the NFL. Examples include former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who claimed after a tie game against the Cincinnati Bengals that he was unaware that a tie could occur and running back Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who tied the Detroit Lions in 2021.
After a rule change in 1974 added one sudden death overtime period (15 minutes) to regular-season games if they were tied after regulation, ties became less common.
According to the original overtime regulations, the game could be won by either team scoring in the extra period. As of 2012, if the team that kicked off the game scores a field goal, the other team has the chance to match it or beat it; if they are successful in doing so, the next team to score any points wins.
The extra period for regular season games was reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes under new overtime regulations that went into effect in 2017.