Last updated: Feb 22, 2023
On paper, a football game should only last 60 minutes long. Why do American football games typically span multiple hours? Below we will discuss the reasons why football games are so long, and what you can expect when watching a game.
Table of Contents
- How Long Is a Game of American Football?
- Quarters and Halves
- The Game Clock
- The Play Clock
- Football Overtime
- How Long Is the Super Bowl?
- Why Are Football Games So Long?
- FAQ
A game of American football is 60 minutes long, consisting of four 15-minute quarters of game time with the potential for additional overtime periods if the score is tied.
In reality, football games last much longer than an hour to complete. Games can typically run two or three hours in length, depending on if the game goes into overtime. Injuries, media timeouts, penalties, replay reviews, and halftime intermissions account for the large amounts of time that increase the overall length of the football game.Recent studies have shown that the average NFL game lasts around three hours in total.
Quarters and Halves
NFL and college football games consist of two 30-minute halves broken down into four 15-minute quarters. The time between quarters and the halftime break will also account for additional time added to a football game. In college football, halftime lasts 20-minutes, while in the NFL halftime lasts 13 minutes.
The Game Clock
The game clock is used to keep track of time in eachof the quarters. The main reason why quarters take longer than 15-minutes in real life is because the game clock is not always continuous and will stop for things like penalties, incomplete passes, running out of bounds, injuries, timeouts, and the two-minute warning.
The Play Clock
The play clock keeps track of time between scrimmage downs for the offense. It is designed to keep the pace of a football game and to ensure that teams don’t take forever to snap the ball. If the offense fails to call a timeout or run a play by the time the play clock runs out, they are charged with a delay of game penalty. For both college football and NFL football, the play clock is 40 seconds beginning from the end of each play. A 25-second play clock is used after stoppages in play.
Overtime significantly increases the time it takes to complete a football game. Overtime is an extra quarter used to decide a winner when the game is tied at the end of regulation. Overtime lasts 10 minutes in the NFL regular season and 15 minutes in the playoffs. In college football, there is no game clock during overtime periods.Overtime may take longer in the NFL playoffs because both teams are guaranteed a possession on offense.In college football, both teams have a chance to score in each overtime, and overtime will continue until a winner is decided.
How Long Is the Super Bowl?
The Super Bowl decides who is crowned the champion of the NFL season, so naturally, there’s increased fanfare surrounding the event. Most notably, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is far longer than the average halftime intermission. Due in large part to this halftime show, the Super Bowl typically lasts close to four hours.The Super Bowl has the same length of quarters as any other NFL game. The halftime show typically lasts about 15 minutes, with the halftime break a total of 30 minutes, contributing to this increased game length.
Below are some of the reasons why football games typically last longer than 60 minutes of game time:
- Teams must be on the field 10 minutes prior to kickoff in the NFL.
- There are four quarters in a football game; Quarters last 15 minutes.
- There are two minute intermission breaks between the first and second quarters and second and third quarters.
- Halftime lasts 13 minutes in the NFL and 20 minutes in college football.
- The game clock stops throughout the game when the ball goes out of bounds, after a score, when a timeout is called, and for the two-minute warning.
- Timeouts last 30 seconds in the NFL.
- Overtime lasts 10 minutes in the NFL regular season, and 15 minutes in the NFL postseason.
- Overtime in college football has no game clock, which increases the length of a football game.
FAQ
How long is an American football game?
An American football game typically laststhree hours or more.Clock stoppages, timeouts, injuries, halftime, overtime, replay reviews, and penalties all add on additional time to the 60 minutes of regulation.
How long do NFL games last?
According to recent studies, the average NFL game lasts around three hours in total.Playoff games last longer than regular season games since overtime can span multiple quarters and lasts 15-minutes.
How long is a football quarter?
Quarters each last 15 minutesand there are four quarters in a football game. Additional periods called overtime are used if the score is tied at the end of regulation.
How long is a college football game?
The average college football game lasts 3 hours and 32 minutes in 2022.In 2013, the average college football lasted 3 hours and 17 minutes.
Pages Related to How Long Does An American Football Game Last?
FAQs
Collegiate and professional football games are 1 hour long, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. In high school football, 12 minute quarters are usually played. The clock is stopped frequently, however, with the result that a typical college or professional game can exceed three hours in duration.
How long does a game of American football last? ›
NFL games are scheduled to be played in one hour but usually go on for much longer - the average NFL game takes 3 hours and 12 minutes from start to finish while the average college football game takes 3 hours and 24 minutes to be completed. Super Bowl 2024 49ers - Chiefs live online: stats, score, latest updates…
Are American football games 60 minutes long? ›
An NFL game lasts for 60 minutes and is split into four 15-minute quarters. However, due to an extended half-time break, injuries, replay reviews, penalties and media timeouts, the whole thing usually takes four hours. And if the scores are level at the end of normal time, there is a ten-minute overtime period.
How many minutes is a game of American football? ›
An NFL (National Football League) game lasts for approximately 3 hours, including halftime. However, the actual playing time during a game is only 60 minutes, divided into four 15-minute quarters.
What is the average time of a football game? ›
Unlike hockey or basketball, the 60-minute game clock in football can run even when the ball is not in play. That means a lot of game time is spent standing around or huddling up before each play begins. On average, an NFL game is played for approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes.
What was the shortest NFL game? ›
You have to go back to 1996 to find the shortest game in NFL history, with the San Diego Chargers' trip to the Indianapolis Colts lasting just two hours and 29 minutes. It was not a game to remember for Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who was intercepted four times and sacked six times.
Who is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
Why is NFL so long? ›
Because that's the length specified within The Laws of the Game—the international rules for football. This time is often modified for lower levels of play—typically younger ages and/or older adult amateur. But the “standard” time for a match is dictated to be two 45-minute halves.
What is the longest American football game? ›
The NFL's longest ever game: Dolphins vs Chiefs in 1971
On that occasion, the two sides had to go to double overtime and they recorded the longest ever NFL game time of 82 minutes and 40 seconds. A back-and-forth second half meant that the game finished 24-24, requiring overtime to determine a winner.
How long is NFL halftime? ›
How long is a regular NFL halftime? The official NFL rulebooks lists the intermission as lasting 13 minutes. That number is fairly exact, as it is listed that the back judge will clock time the halftime.
What Are the 3 Oldest NFL Teams?
- The Arizona Cardinals are the league's oldest franchise, founded in 1898.
- The Chicago Bears were originally known as the Decatur Staleys.
- The Green Bay Packers play in the NFL's smallest market.
The highest paid player in the league at that position, the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, is also the highest paid player in the league, making $55 million per season (yes, $55 million per season in average annual salary).
Why is football called football? ›
The story of “football” began with games played on foot, far different from what we witness today. The term was a broad descriptor for various games with the common goal of moving a ball towards a target area, primarily using feet.
Can a football game last 4 hours? ›
Parking, finding your seat, and post-game activities can add extra time to your NFL adventure, potentially turning it into a memorable 4-6 hour event. The length of an NFL game can vary due to multiple factors. From penalties to game flow, various elements play a role in shaping the overall game experience.
How long do football games last in real life? ›
Generally speaking, an NFL game will last for over three hours if we include everything that happens beyond the match itself. However, the amount of time in which the play actually takes place is not that long. The actual game of American football lasts for 60 minutes, with four quarters of 15 minutes.
What is the average time in the NFL? ›
The average length of an NFL career is about 3.3 years, according to a 2016 study. Average NFL career length for running backs is only 2.57 years. For wide receivers in NFL, the average career length is 2.81 years. The average career length for a professional NFL quarterback is 3.44 years.
How long is a NFL halftime? ›
How long is a regular NFL halftime? The official NFL rulebooks lists the intermission as lasting 13 minutes. That number is fairly exact, as it is listed that the back judge will clock time the halftime.
