It’s been awhile since I casually talked about football. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember, and whenever I’m asked the question: “How long is an NFL quarter?”, I’m always struck by how complicated the answer is. Sure, it’s a straightforward answer, but the story behind the quarter length is fascinating and runs much deeper than what one would expect.
Today, NFL quarters are 15 minutes long, but to answer this question, one needs to look at the evolution of American Football. That’s right – it wasn’t always 15 minutes. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, college football teams would play one 40-minute half. But over the years, this was whittled down to four 10-minute quarters, and then five eight-minute periods. This went on until the 1940s when it finally settled on 15 minutes.
But there had always been an underlying question – would 15 minutes be staggered throughout the entire game, or could they be moved around during the course of the game? This was a decision that the NCAA needed to make, and they eventually settled on a hybrid schedule where the first and third quarters would be 15 minutes long, and the second and fourth quarters would be 12 minutes long.
However, this decision was met with criticism from die-hard football fans and players alike. How could the rules be the same if the quarters were different lengths? So, in 1960, the NCAA decided to cut all four quarters down to 15 minutes apiece for the entire game. This was a good move, but it created a whole new set of problems.
Namely, 15 minutes was a long time to play without any stoppages. Without any breaks, players could get exhausted, and quite a few injuries were occurring due to fatigue. So the NCAA had to come up with a way to make the game safer by introducing four timeouts per team per half. This way, teams could rest and re-energize themselves before a long drive or a crucial play.
Thanks to the introduction of stoppages, we now have a standardized 15-minute quarters. It is a rule that has been in place for almost 60 years, and it has truly made the game a lot safer. Unfortunately, the key factor – player safety – is still at risk, as player exhaustion is still a major issue in the league. But I’m confident that with proper rule changes, good coaches, and innovative technology, the NFL can use the quartered system to make the game safer and more enjoyable.