The third quarterback rule is a rule in the National Football League that governs the use of a third quarterback in addition to the starter and the backup. The third quarterback does not count towards the team's 45-man active roster. If the third quarterback enters the game at any position during any of the first three quarters, the starter and backup become ineligible to play for the rest of the game; the third quarterback can enter the game in the fourth quarter while preserving the eligibility of the starter and backup.
The full text of the rule is:
Teams will be permitted an Active List of 45 players and an Inactive List of eight players for each regular-season and postseason game. Provided that a club has two quarterbacks on its 45-player Active List, a third quarterback from its Inactive List is permitted to dress for the game, but if he enters the game during the first three quarters, the other two quarterbacks are thereafter prohibited from playing.
Although it is not specifically indicated, the NFL has interpreted its rule to mean that in order to designate a third quarterback, the two on the active roster must both be "bona fide" quarterbacks, not other position players merely designated as quarterbacks.
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