How many timeouts are NFL teams given each half?

NFL teams are given three timeouts in each half. Each team starts both the first and second half with three charged team timeouts, which coaches can use to stop the game clock, discuss strategy, challenge certain plays, or prevent a delay-of-game penalty.

Timeouts do not carry over from one half to the next. A team that ends the first half with unused timeouts still receives a fresh allotment after halftime. In overtime, the rules provide a separate timeout allotment rather than extending the second-half supply.

A common mix-up is confusing team timeouts with the automatic stoppages officials call for injuries, reviews, television breaks, or other administrative reasons. Those stoppages are not necessarily charged to a team. Coaches also cannot simply call unlimited timeouts in succession: the rules restrict consecutive requests and penalize improper attempts. The three-per-half limit makes late-game clock management especially important, because spending all three early can leave a team unable to stop the clock during a final drive.