Lightning Delays Are Influenced By TV Networks
September 23rd, 2026
What are NFL policies on a lightning delay?
The NFL is a network TV drama series.
The NFL gets the majority of its wealth from TV networks. In return, TV networks have a heavy hand in how the NFL is run.
Anyone remember how the NFL used to open the season with Week 1 on Labor Day weekend? TV networks nixed that because too many folks north of the Ohio River took their final opportunity of summer to do things outside.
With less eyeballs, the networks made less money and, in turn, the NFL had less revenue.
When NFL strongman Roger Goodell floats a rumor about maybe having a Super Bowl held in Europe, Joe laughs. Network suits pay such an obscene amount to televise a Super Bowl, they want that thing on in primetime (for eyeballs, of course).
If the NFL put a Super Bowl in Europe, the game would have to be played in the middle of the night in Europe. That’s not going to happen.
The Bucs, in their galling loss to the hapless Browns, had roughly 140-minute lightning delay that began at the two-minute warning.
Tristan Wirfs sounded off after the game about not finishing the game with only two minutes left, calling the decision “ridiculous.” Joe is making no excuses for that tripe on Sunday from the Bucs, but you cannot tell Joe the Browns didn’t get a massive break.
Browns defenders before the delay were seriously sucking air. With a two-hour break, the Browns got a chance to cool off and hydrate in air conditioning.
Joe thought Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was going to keel over when he took a knee as Browns trainers tended to an injured player. Schwesinger was running on fumes and guts.
Up in the press box, reporters were constantly fed different intel, none by Bucs, Browns or game officials. The information came from “they.”
(For fans of the late great GOB, Chris Thomas, you know that was likely Chuck LaMar.)
Jayna Bardahl of The Athletic decided to dig into what the NFL policy is concerning delays. And really, there is no set policy about specifcs. The NFL lets the networks, in Sunday’s case, CBS, determine how long delays are and when they can be called.
The NFL does not lay out a specific policy regarding how long weather delays must be and assesses each situation individually based on storm path and potential risk. However, broadcast networks typically have guidelines that state they won’t bring back uncovered camera operators until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.
So in Florida, when there is a lightning strike, it is unknown how long the delay could last. The NFL could resume a game the next day.
So why does the NFL wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike? Bardahl points out networks don’t want their expensive equipment fried by a lightning bolt or have one of their employees zapped.
Warmups, per Bardahl, can be no longer than 15 minutes and are generally just 10 minutes.
So now you know some protocols for a lightning delay in the NFL and why some last so long.
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:56 am
Today’s chances of another weak excuse are 100%
With off and on pity party showers
The 5 day forecast shows another loss coming in from the north
September 23rd, 2026 at 1:16 am
I asked the good, paid AI to show an example of fans being hit by lightning while sitting in the seats of a football stadium during the game.
The results….
It has literally never happened. Ever.
In fact, despite Tampa being the lightning capital of the US, there has never been a recorded strike in the seating bowl of RayJay at any time. ALSO, there has never been a strike inside the seating bowl of the old Tampa Stadium. So going back nearly 60 years, with no strikes. Why is that? Oh right, the stadium literally has a lightning protection system to absorb potential strikes and move it away from the fans. Meanwhile, fans have been hit by lightning OUTSIDE of the stadium – so they’re literally safer inside, in their seats, than being outside – and after a 2-hour delay, fans were leaving.
Obviously if you have a lightning swarm coming right at the stadium, then of course stop the game. But stopping a game because of a lightning strike 9 miles away, for 30-mins, is some real BS. At the old Tampa Stadium, you’d sit in the stands and see the storms coming with the lightning, and people would get up and walk out when it started looking like it was a real issue and they’d stop the game. Now games are stopped when you literally can’t see or even hear the lightning, and it’s even going in the direction of the stadium.
September 23rd, 2026 at 1:55 am
We suck does it matter?
September 23rd, 2026 at 2:12 am
They should have played the last 10 snaps. Suck it up the odds of some camera operator getting struck by lightning has to be slightly better than bowles winning a superbowlnas a head coach.
So it’s never going to happen. Play the game or make the defense of the browns run wind sprints for 6 minutes. And than start the game up once they are sucking wind
September 23rd, 2026 at 3:06 am
The cameramen are like Union or something, and have it stated inside of their contracts a certain mileage… I think it was for like 8-miles and 30-minutes, but it could even be 10 or 15-miles now, for 40-50 minutes, even!? I’ve watched SEVERAL College Games over the past two years, where the little pansy ass cameramen (I mean, some of them are way up there real high up on those towers tho LoL), just TAKE-OFF completely outta NOWHERE, & you are forced to have to watch JUST the one totally stationary, generic camera view from the 50 yard-line, with NONE of the on-field sound… ONLY just the announcers. It’s very awkward, and it SUCKS BADDDDD.
September 23rd, 2026 at 6:07 am
They said it’s the insurance company of the stadiums that make the 8 mile rule
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:10 am
Theme parks do the same thing with waiting 30 minutes after the last recorded lightning strike.
September 23rd, 2026 at 7:40 am
The Mighty GOB. “We of they”. RIP.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:13 am
Agree that game could have been finished. At the time of the stopage their was no rain and no observed lightening. Yes absolutely stopping the game stopped the Bucs strong momentumn and clearly the Browns were on their heels tired. With that said the Bucs should have had the game in hand a long time prior to that. They played poorly up to that point.If they were the better team they would have come out and won the game. Give Clevland credit they played the better game and won. It is that simple. The Bucs offense did not play well and neither did the defense it was a true team loss.
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:29 am
SlyPirate Says:
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:56 am
Today’s chances of another weak excuse are 100%
With off and on pity party showers
The 5 day forecast shows another loss coming in from the north
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
September 23rd, 2026 at 8:42 am
Last I checked the Browns had to sit through it as well.
September 23rd, 2026 at 9:13 am
Worst was letting the clock run down to the 2 minute warning. Should have run a play. The Brown’s d was gassed and toddy gave them a chance to catch their breath. Genius coaching.
September 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
Was at the the game Club seats row U 50 yard line looking south east from my seat saw lighting looked to be 20 miles away, felt minor rain drops right then this was exactly at the 2 min warning. They made the announcement and people started going inside the concourse when I got inside directly across from is the Club main bar with floor to ceiling windows the we watched the sky get real dark and maybe after 7 mins heard and saw thunder and lighting coming from the west over airport. I think we could have finished the game before they called for the delay. sitting in the concourse for over two hours supplies started to diminish food primarily drinks were plenty after just 30 mins from the call for delay the Club concourse was not very crowded most people left the building or went to lower area that was when storm got strong and I’m sure many people got soaked going to their cars. Unfortunately after the 10 min warm-up to resume the game rain came down again just before the Hurst endzone attempt he had his sticky gloves on should have removed when wet they can grip anything IMO Bucky underneath in the slant on that play would have been a better call for 1st down at least…. BTW Hurst mom two rows in front of me was entertaining to watch as well. GO BUCS!
September 23rd, 2026 at 10:17 am
why I like the lightning grew up here lightning capital of the world was not good at ice skating played b ball but to stop that game with 2mins redunkulus with a distant strike
September 23rd, 2026 at 12:57 pm
How do you get 200 minutes?