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NFL Owners Approve Overtime Rule Change For Regular Season

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 10: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs screams prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

NFL owners approved a rule change on Tuesday to allow both teams to possess the ball in overtime, making the playoff overtime rules uniform for all games. The proposal came from the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL announced this rule change and several others for the 2025 season.

The only difference between the playoff format and the regular season is the duration of overtime, which will stay at ten minutes for the regular season. The proposal for the new overtime rules passed 32-0 among NFL owners during the league’s annual meeting at Palm Beach, Florida.

There has been demand among many NFL fans for changes to the overtime format for a long time. The overtime playoff rules were first changed in 2022, following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 42-36 win over the Buffalo Bills during that year’s divisional round.

The league has also approved other rule changes. Touchbacks will now be marked at the 35-yard line to increase the return rate on kickoffs.

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Changes to replay assist have been added as well. The on-site replay official will now be allowed to reverse flags for hits to a defenseless player, facemask, horsecollar, tripping and roughing/running into the kicker.