Discussions about potential changes to the NFL’s overtime format will be discussed this week during the NFL’s annual league meeting in Florida.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach and Competitions Committee member Mike Tomlin offered his personal take on possible changes to the OT Rules during the coaches’ media presence Monday.
“I am an advocate of sudden death. I’m a traditionalist,” he saidvia NFL Network’s Judy Battista.
Tomlin noted that he believes 60 minutes of regulation is ample time for either team to win the game.
“I don’t fear sudden death,” said Tomlin.
After Buffalo’s postseason loss to Kansas City, which left quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense without a chance to touch the ball, there was renewed interest in changing the overtime format to allow both clubs possession.
Change is not a new term. At times in the past, a similar mood ensued after games in which the winner of the coin toss drove the field for the game win. It happened to the Chiefs against New England. And Tomlin’s Steelers lost once to Tim Tebow’s Broncos in the 2011 postseason in the first game of scrimmage in OT.
The NFL has tinkered with overtime rules in the past, changing them from a field goal that ends the game on opening possession to a TD. The league also shortened the regular season extension to 10 minutes due to health concerns.
Tomlin noted that he felt a desire for OT to change, but he wasn’t sure if the owners could agree on a chance that would get 24 votes.
Two proposals are on the table, one of which gives both teams the opportunity to own the ball in OT. The second, submitted by the Tennessee Titans, would give both teams an opportunity to possess the ball in OT unless the team with the first possession scores a TD and converts an optional two-point try.