Yes, ties exist in the NFL. But you knew that (I hope you do!).
Thing is, not every NFL player knows that. And it feels like every time there’s a game that ends in a tie, we learn of someone who talks about how they thought regular-season games continued after the end of overtime.
This time around? It’s Najee Harris, the rookie running back sensation for the Pittsburgh Steelers who participated in the team’s 16-16 tie with the Detroit Lions during a terrible slate of games in Week 10.
Let’s run down some of the notable names — including one coach! — who, like Harris, had no idea:
And from the other sideline …
Lions RB/KR Godwin Igwebuike didn’t know either. He was asking around on the sideline how many OTs there can be. One person said three, another person said two. https://t.co/ceS1rPe1QY
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 14, 2021
To be clear, I’m not trying to clown Godwin Igwebuike, who seems to be a very thoughtful guy. He might’ve been saying this light-heartedly. But it absolutely speaks to the weirdness of ties in the NFL, and how antithetical it is to how players operate. https://t.co/G5P5ZAuWVh
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 14, 2021
The most famous example from 2008:
Here’s one from 2012, via USA TODAY Sports:
We’d never practiced or talked about going into a number of overtimes. So I was just getting ready for the next one. I honestly didn’t know a game could end in a tie. Call me stupid, but I don’t give a (expletive). I don’t agree with ties. It is what it is, I guess. I’m upset we tied. We should’ve won and they could’ve put it away. Either way, we could’ve had an outcome. I don’t know. Maybe they should change the rule.
Amendola just told me he thought there was going to be a second overtime. Didn’t know it was over till he heard from an official.
— Peter King (@peter_king) November 12, 2012
Another one from a Rams-Niners game in 2012 that Amendola was referring to. Via NFL.com:
“I’ve never heard of a tie in football,” safety Dashon Goldson said. “Where’s everybody going? Did somebody quit? Forfeit?”
In 2016, the Washington head coach appeared to admit he had no idea:
Gruden: “I don’t know how to react. I didn’t know it was possible to tie. There was a tie last week I was like ‘how heck did they tie?'”
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) October 30, 2016
HOW DOES A COACH NOT KNOW?!
In 2014, the Panthers and Bengals tied 37-37 and he simply said, when asked if he’d ever been in a game that ended in a tie: “Never. I didn’t even know you [could tie] in the NFL.”
Jason Avant has been involved in two ties now. Both in Cincinnati.
Kelvin Benjamin: “I didn’t even know you could tie in the NFL.”
— Black & Blue Review (@BlackBlueReview) October 12, 2014
From The Post-Gazette in 2018:
Steelers rookie safety Terrell Edmunds thought a second overtime loomed after the first expired. Thankfully, he was wrong, and we were spared from watching even one more second of a contest that featured 23 penalties worth 203 yards.
“It was insanity all the way around,” Edmunds said.
But did he really think a second overtime was coming?
“Honestly, at one point, I was like, ‘OK, I’m ready to go back out. Let’s get right. Let’s go stop ‘em,’” Edmunds said. “And they were all like, ‘It’s just a tie, bro.’
“I was like, ‘Oh man.’“
From a 2013 tie:
This is nothing new but still hard to believe: I heard multiple Packers admit they expected a second overtime, didn’t know they could tie.
— robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) November 24, 2013
Multiple Packers didn’t know the game could end in a tie. Andrew Quarless says: “I thought we were going to go into a second OT.” #Packers
— Packers Nation (@PackerFansOnly) November 25, 2013
Yes, ties exist in the NFL. But you knew that (I hope you do!). Thing is, not every NFL player knows that. And it feels like every time there’s a game that ends in a tie, we learn of someone who talks about how they thought regular-season games continued after the end of overtime. This time around? It’s Najee Harris, the rookie running back sensation for the Pittsburgh Steelers who participated in the team’s 16-16 tie with the Detroit Lions during a terrible slate of games in Week 10. Let’s run down some of the notable names — including one coach! — who, like Harris, had no idea: And from the other sideline … Lions RB/KR Godwin Igwebuike didn’t know either. He was asking around on the sideline how many OTs there can be. One person said three, another person said two. https://t.co/ceS1rPe1QY — Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 14, 2021 To be clear, I’m not trying to clown Godwin Igwebuike, who seems to be a very thoughtful guy. He might’ve been saying this light-heartedly. But it absolutely speaks to the weirdness of ties in the NFL, and how antithetical it is to how players operate. https://t.co/G5P5ZAuWVh — Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) November 14, 2021 The most famous example from 2008: Here’s one from 2012, via USA TODAY Sports: We’d never practiced or talked about going into a number of overtimes. So I was just getting ready for the next one. I honestly didn’t know a game could end in a tie. Call me stupid, but I don’t give a (expletive). I don’t agree with ties. It is what it is, I guess. I’m upset we tied. We should’ve won and they could’ve put it away. Either way, we could’ve had an outcome. I don’t know. Maybe they should change the rule. Amendola just told me he thought there was going to be a second overtime. Didn’t know it was over till he heard from an official. — Peter King (@peter_king) November 12, 2012 Another one from a Rams-Niners game in 2012 that Amendola was referring to. Via NFL.com: “I’ve never heard of a tie in football,” safety Dashon Goldson said. “Where’s everybody going? Did somebody quit? Forfeit?” In 2016, the Washington head coach appeared to admit he had no idea: Gruden: “I don’t know how to react. I didn’t know it was possible to tie. There was a tie last week I was like ‘how heck did they tie?'” — Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) October 30, 2016 HOW DOES A COACH NOT KNOW?! In 2014, the Panthers and Bengals tied 37-37 and he simply said, when asked if he’d ever been in a game that ended in a tie: “Never. I didn’t even know you [could tie] in the NFL.” Jason Avant has been involved in two ties now. Both in Cincinnati. Kelvin Benjamin: “I didn’t even know you could tie in the NFL.” — Black & Blue Review (@BlackBlueReview) October 12, 2014 From The Post-Gazette in 2018: Steelers rookie safety Terrell Edmunds thought a second overtime loomed after the first expired. Thankfully, he was wrong, and we were spared from watching even one more second of a contest that featured 23 penalties worth 203 yards. “It was insanity all the way around,” Edmunds said. But did he really think a second overtime was coming? “Honestly, at one point, I was like, ‘OK, I’m ready to go back out. Let’s get right. Let’s go stop ‘em,’” Edmunds said. “And they were all like, ‘It’s just a tie, bro.’ “I was like, ‘Oh man.’“ From a 2013 tie: This is nothing new but still hard to believe: I heard multiple Packers admit they expected a second overtime, didn’t know they could tie. — robertklemko (@RobertKlemko) November 24, 2013 Multiple Packers didn’t know the game could end in a tie. Andrew Quarless says: “I thought we were going to go into a second OT.” #Packers — Packers Nation (@PackerFansOnly) November 25, 2013