NFL Resurrects Decade-Long Extinct Quarterback Rule Following San Francisco 49ers’ Playoff Tragedy

There are moments when rules are created or dismantled. The NFL experienced this firsthand when an essential quarterback rule, aimed at assisting teams, was eliminated. Yet, as fate would have it, the NFL has now reintroduced that rule that had been dormant for a decade of about 12 years.

Triggered by the playoff misfortune of the San Francisco 49ers, the league has breathed new life into this rule, marking a significant shift in strategy. This anticipated proposal gained approval in May, influencing the recent decision of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign former Rams quarterback John Wolford. As the decision is now officially released, all 32 teams and their quarterbacks can undoubtedly view this rule as a blessing.

What is this rule and how will it benefit the teams?

The NFL has reinstated the third quarterback rule, a change that was approved by NFL owners during the Spring League Meeting in May. This new bylaw allows teams to have a third quarterback dressed on game days without using an active roster spot. This rule had been in effect from 1991 to 2010 before being eliminated due to an increase in the number of players allowed to be active on game day. Now, it has made a comeback with some modifications. In this revised version, a third emergency quarterback must be part of the active 53-man roster, not the practice squad. However, they don’t need to be among the 47 or 48 players declared active for that specific game.

For instance, if a team dresses eight offensive linemen, they only need to declare five inactive. The emergency quarterback comes into play if a team has two quarterbacks injured or disqualified during a game. If either of the injured quarterbacks receives medical clearance to return, the emergency quarterback must exit the game. It’s expected that more teams will opt to carry three quarterbacks on their roster in 2023, particularly those with quarterbacks susceptible to injuries. In the previous season, teams could have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, but the third quarterback had to be part of the game-day activities to play in case of an emergency.

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Now, that’s no longer a requirement. This change aims to avoid situations like the San Francisco 49ers’ playoff game last year when both healthy quarterbacks were lost, and there was no emergency rule in place.

Niners’ quarterback crisis last year…

The quarterback crisis haunted the San Francisco during last year’s NFC Championship Game. Brock Purdy‘s unexpected rise turned the 49ers into not just competitors, but contenders, making it one of the most delightful surprises of the season. However, Purdy’s admission that he couldn’t throw the ball beyond ten yards added to the woes, as the starting quarterback sustained an elbow injury in the opening series.

This forced the 49ers to rely on Josh Johnson, who suffered a concussion in the third quarter. Consequently, Purdy had to return to the game, yet he could only manage to complete two short passes. This dilemma rendered the Niners’ offense ineffective, leading to the Eagles claiming the conference title.

To prevent such situations akin to the 49ers’, the NFL has reinstated the much-needed ‘third QB’ rule.

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