In the National Football League (NFL), a tied game occurs when a regular season game ends with both teams having an equal score after one 10-minute overtime period.[1][2] Ties have counted as a half-win and half-loss in league standings since 1972; before that, ties were not counted in the standings at all.[3] Tie games were once frequent in the NFL, but have become uncommon due to a rule change in 1974 that extended the existing sudden-death overtime for postseason games into the regular season.[4] As a result, ties are most often the result of mishaps or mistakes from the teams involved. Tied games are considered to be the least desired outcome a football game can produce.[5]
From 1920 to 1973, there were a total of 290 tied games. Only three seasons prior to the rule change went without a tied game, while five seasons had at least ten ties. The most ties, 17, occurred in the 1920 season.[6] Since overtime was introduced in 1974, there have been 30 tied games. The most ties recorded in a season since the introduction of overtime is two; this has happened in five seasons (1986, 1997, 2016, 2018, and 2022). The most recent tie game occurred on September 28, 2025, when the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys played to a 40–40 draw.[7] The Jacksonville Jaguars, who joined the NFL in 1995, are the only current NFL team that has never recorded a tied game.[8] However, 7 other teams have not recorded a tie since the 1974 rule change: the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans.
In 1974, the NFL instituted a single sudden-death 15-minute overtime period for all games that were tied at the end of regulation. During these seasons, a total of 494 regular season games went to overtime, 17 (3.4%) of which ended in a tie.[10]
Key
Symbol
Meaning
Team (#)
Denotes the number of times the team has tied a game since 1974.
First regular-season overtime game in NFL history. As of 2026 it remains the most recent tie recorded by a team (the Steelers) that went on to win the Super Bowl.[11][12]
With about a minute left in overtime, Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton's pass was intercepted by Rams linebacker Rick Kay at the Rams' 1-yard line. The Rams then conceded the tie with the ball deep in their own territory.[13][14]
The Colts, who eventually finished their season at 0–8–1,[C] overcame a 20–6 fourth-quarter deficit. Packers kicker Jan Stenerud missed wide right from 47 yards with 2:00 remaining.[20][21]
Only overtime tie to date on Monday Night Football.[22] Cardinals kicker Neil O'Donoghue missed three field-goal attempts in the extra period from 45, 20 and 42 yards, the last two in the final 66 seconds.[23][24]
Cardinals kicker Eric Schubert missed two field goals, including a 37-yarder in the final seconds of overtime. Eagles kicker Paul McFadden missed a 43-yard field goal in the extra period.[27]
Chiefs kicker Nick Lowery, one of the most accurate kickers during the 1989 season, played poorly on the sloppy turf of Cleveland Municipal Stadium. He missed a 45-yard field goal that would have won it for the Chiefs with four seconds left in regulation. In overtime, he had a chance to win the game on a 47-yard attempt with 3 seconds left, but missed that one as well.[31][32]
Each team had an unsuccessful field-goal attempt in overtime; Ravens kicker Matt Stover missed wide right from 53 yards with 2:21 remaining, Eagles kicker Chris Boniol also missed wide right from 40 yards on the last play of the game.[33][34]
Atlanta mounted a 17-point comeback to force overtime. Steelers wide receiverPlaxico Burress was stopped one yard short of the end zone on the final play of overtime.[37][38]
Bengals kicker Shayne Graham missed a 47-yard field goal with seven seconds left in overtime. At the post-game press conference, Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said that he did not know games could end tied.[39][40]
In 2012, the NFL instituted a modified sudden-death overtime system to prevent a field goal from the team that won the kickoff from ending the game.[41] During these seasons, a total of 83 regular season games went to overtime, 5 (6.0%) of which ended in a tie.[42]
Both teams scored a field goal in the overtime period. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent missed a 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired in overtime.[47][48]
Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro and Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka missed consecutive field goals from short distances late in overtime after having each made one earlier in the period. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer threw a Hail Mary pass that was knocked out of the endzone at the end of overtime.[49][50]
In 2017, the NFL shortened overtime from 15 minutes to 10 minutes for regular season games with the intent of reducing the risk of injury, despite concerns that this could lead to more ties.[53][54] During these seasons, a total of 118 regular season games went to overtime, 7 (5.9%) of which ended in a tie.
Both Steelers kicker Chris Boswell and Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez missed field goals in the final two minutes of overtime. This was the first Week 1 tie since 1971. This tie ended a 17-game losing streak for the Browns that dated back to the 2016 season.[55][56]
Packers kicker Mason Crosby made what would have been a game-winning field goal as time expired in regulation, but the Vikings called timeout before the play and Crosby missed his second attempt, sending the game to overtime. Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson missed two field goals in overtime, one as time expired, and was waived by the team the next day.[57][58]
The Cardinals trailed by 18 points during the fourth quarter. Both teams kicked a field goal in the extra period. With 10 seconds remaining, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw an incomplete pass that was nearly intercepted by Cardinals cornerback Tramaine Brock.[59][60]
This tie ended a 12-game losing streak for the Lions dating back to 2020. The Steelers lost two fumbles in Detroit territory during the overtime period. Steelers running back Najee Harris noted in the postgame press conference that he did not know an NFL game could end in a tie.[62][63]
The Colts scored 17 unanswered points in the final 11 minutes of regulation. Neither team scored in the extra period.[64] The Colts released kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in overtime.[65][66]
In 2025, the NFL changed the overtime rules to allow both teams to have possession during the overtime period, even if the first team scores a touchdown, with the overtime remaining at 10 minutes.[68] Through the end of the 2025 season, a total of 14 regular season games went to overtime, 1 (7.1%) of which ended in a tie.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made a go-ahead field goal with 4:40 left in overtime, and Packers kicker Brandon McManus made the game-tying field goal as time expired. This was the first tied game to have a game-tying score as time expired in overtime. This was the second highest-scoring tie in NFL history, and the highest since the introduction of overtime.[69][70]
^No official standings were recorded throughout the 1920 season and teams played games against opponents outside of the league.[9]
^The American Football League was founded in 1960 and played as a separate league until 1969, after which it merged with the NFL. The modern NFL considers the 1960s history and records of the AFL to be a part of its own, however, AFL tied games are tabulated separately in this section.
^Litsky, Frank (October 26, 1983). "Mistakes Hurt Giants in Tie". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
