What is the longest NFL game ever played?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The longest game in NFL history took place on Christmas Day in 1971, featuring a fierce AFC Divisional playoff matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. This epic postseason contest lasted an astonishing 82 minutes and 40 seconds of elapsed playing time, stretching into a second overtime period before it was finally decided. The game was a grueling defensive battle and offensive endurance test that pushed every player on both squads to their absolute physical limits. The scoring started with a Dolphins field goal, followed by a Chiefs touchdown, setting the tone for a tight, tense affair. Kansas City had a golden opportunity to win the game at the end of the fourth regulation quarter, but kicker Jan Stenerud missed a potential game-winning 32-yard field goal. As the game dragged on through the first overtime period, both teams traded missed field goal attempts and defensive stops, with fatigue visibly slowing down the players on the frozen field. Finally, nearly eight minutes into the second overtime period, Miami Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian successfully booted a 37-yard field goal, bringing an exhausting end to the marathon contest and securing a 27-24 victory for Miami, propelling them forward in the playoffs while cementing this unforgettable game into the permanent history books of professional football lore.

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