Football is a grueling game, so players will take every chance they can get to rest and recuperate between the action. Halftime is one opportunity — but it's not a very long one.
The break between the second and third quarter of each NFL game gives players and fans alike a chance to reset. In some cases, that makes all the difference. It's not uncommon to see teams come out of halftime with an entirely different attitude and start cutting into a deficit.
How long do players actually get to reset and strategize during halftime? It might not be as long as you think.
Here's what you need to know about the length of NFL halftimes and some more details about halftime.
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How long is NFL halftime?
The NFL rulebook lists halftime as 13 minutes long. While it can be tough to precisely time the break so that it lasts exactly 13 minutes, the second half reliably starts less than 15 minutes after the end of the first half.
If fans who also watch college football on Saturday notice a difference, it's because there is a significant one. NCAA football halftimes last 20 minutes, a full seven minutes longer than the NFL.
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How long is NFL halftime in the playoffs?
NFL halftimes are the same length in the playoffs, with one major exception: the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl halftime show is only 12-15 minutes, but it takes time to set up the stage and dismantle it all while not disturbing the playing surface. In all, halftime at the Super Bowl lasts 25-30 minutes.
The other 12 playoff games have the traditional 13-minute halftime, just with much more tension for teams (and fans) than there is during the regular season.
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What do NFL players do at halftime?
Halftime is 13 minutes, but it takes time for players to get down the tunnel and then come back out onto the field.
Then-Saints coach Sean Payton revealed in 2013 that, because of the time limitations, there isn't too much strategy that can be worked on at halftime. "Guys are getting something to drink, going to the bathroom and we talk amongst the coaches on a few things we want to hit on," he told reporters.
That indicates coaches can shift strategy, but it would be tough to strategize with individual players or position groups with everyone else scattered during those handful of minutes in and around the locker room.
Sometimes, though, a quick break is enough to halt a team's momentum and breathe new life into another. The 49ers proved that in last season's NFC championship when they quickly put a rough first half in the rearview mirror and erased a 24-7 deficit against the Lions.