What is the new NFL clock rule? All you need to know about changes to the rulebook

The new NFL clock rule is one of the most important and welcome rule changes ahead of the 2023 season. It was approved recently, and it will be in effect moving forward in the National Football League.

The rule entails that the game clock continues to run when the first down is attained asides from the last two minutes of both halves. The game clock stopped when a first down was gained and restarted on the referee's signal.

What is the new clock stop rule in the NFL?

The clock will stop after teams attain a first down in the last two minutes of a half. From the 1968 season till 2022, the clock paused when a franchise gained a first down, and it resumed once the referee gave a ready-for-play signal.

What are the rules for the clock in the NFL?

Upon kickoff, the game clock starts when a member of the receiving franchise touches the ball, or the receiving team member touches the ball in their end zone and carries it out of the designated end zone. The game clock is stopped when the act down ends.

Why does the clock not stop in NFL when out of bounds?

If the runner’s forward progress is stopped before going out of bounds, the clock continues to run. It was done because runners toward the end of the game would run up the sideline and slide out of bounds, sometimes backward, to stop the clock.

What is the out-of-bounds rule in the NFL?

If a player with the football is carried out of bounds by an opposing player before any body part other than his hands or both feet touches the ground, then it is a completed or intercepted pass.

What stops the clock in football?

The game clock stops in college and professional football when an incomplete pass is thrown. The game clock stops if a player in possession of the ball steps out of the field in the last two minutes of the first half of the previous five minutes of the second half.

About the NFL Game Clock

An American Football game lasts 60 minutes and consists of four 15-minute quarters. At the turn of each quarter, the teams face the opposite direction on the field, and at the end of the second period, there is a 15-minute half-time break. In its basic form, the idea is simple; whenever the ball is in play, the clock counts from 15 minutes to zero. In the early days of the game, this was simple and direct.