The Dallas Cowboys have had perhaps the most interesting start to the 2025 campaign of any team in the league. After settling for a historic 40-40 tie with the Green Bay Packers in Week 4, Dallas has a 1-2-1 record, and during that time, they have already partaken in two of the most entertaining games of the season.
In the wake of their hard-fought tie with the Packers, football fans have been clamoring for the league to adjust its overtime rules to get rid of ties. However, when discussing the subject, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pulled back the curtain on the league’s overtime rules and revealed the primary reason why ties are in place.
Jerry Jones Dishes on NFL Overtime Rules
In recent years, the NFL’s overtime rules have become the subject of much fanfare. Changes were recently made that allowed both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least once. Previously, teams that won the kickoff in overtime could immediately receive the ball and win the game without their opponent having an opportunity to respond.
Still, there are some flaws when it comes to the league’s overtime rules, with the biggest among them in the eyes of fans being that teams can tie. If both teams have the same score when the 10-minute overtime period ends, the game is called a tie, which is a result that often does not appease fans. That conversation has reached a boiling point in the wake of Dallas and Green Bay’s 40-point tie.
If you are a fan of football, chances are you wanted to see a game of that stature have a true winner. Calls for the NFL to get rid of ties have only increased as a result of this game, but as Jones explained, there’s a reason that the league places a limit on its overtime period, and it largely has to do with scheduling, whether it be for their television deals or their own games throughout the rest of the week of action.
“It’s very important to try to look for, and try to attain, a three-hour window,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “It has to do with timing, it has to do with other games, it has to do with the structure of just how much is enough relative to timing with anything, the length of the game.”
Should the NFL Get Rid of Ties?
GettyRoger Goodell speaking ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana
Many fans point to the overtime rules seen in college football as a more feasible option for ending these tightly contested games. But as Jones notes, there are more restrictions in place for the NFL than college football when it comes to scheduling purposes, which is likely the main reason why games can still end in a tie.
There’s no doubt it’s frustrating when a winner isn’t crowned in an NFL game, but it’s also important to note that ties aren’t exactly a frequent occurrence (prior to this game, the most recent tie was in 2022). The league’s overtime rules could be revisited again this offseason, but based on Jones’ comments, it doesn’t seem like major changes should be expected anytime soon.
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Weighs in on NFL’s Overtime Rules After Tie