I remember the first time I heard about an NFL team ever conceding.Although it seemed crazy at the time, I have since come to realize that it is a reality.
This concept of conceding is a concept unfamiliar to many sports fans, even if they have followed the NFL all their lives. If a team is trailing by enough points that the mathematical chance for victory is gone, a coach can catch everyone off guard when they signal a concession. The concession signals to the other team that the match is essentially over.
My curiosity piqued, I did some research and found that not only has an NFL team ever conceded but that it has happened 18 times in NFL history. Most of those concessions have happened since 1999–when the rules changed to allow for concession during a game.
I was also surprised to learn that the team that was in front when a concession occurred has won the game 100% of the time since concessions were first allowed in 1999. This is why it is important for coaches to be aware of the situation at all times, otherwise a surprise concession can turn the game in the opposing team’s favor.
At first, I found the concept of conceding to be a bit strange. After all, why would any team want to give up like this? But as I learned more about it, I began to understand that conceding can be a strategic move when a team is looking to save energy for a future game or to protect a player from further injury.
It also became clear that concessions in the NFL are often seen as a sign of good sportsmanship—even if it does seem like defeat. After all, the team that concedes is showing respect to the opponent by acknowledging that they are no longer competitive in the match.
What’s even more fascinating is that the concession can be a team decision, brought to the attention of the coach in-game. The players might talk among themselves and realize that a concession is the only logical decision.
This was such an interesting topic for me to explore, and it has really opened my eyes to the strategies coaches use in the NFL. Who knows, maybe one day I might even see an NFL concession play out in a game. That would certainly be something!