The third quarterback rule was a rule in the National Football League that governed the use of a third quarterback in addition to the starter and the backup. This rule was abolished in the 2011 season. The third quarterback did not count towards the team's 45-man active roster. If the third quarterback entered the game at any position during any of the first three quarters, the starter and backup became ineligible to play for the rest of the game; the third quarterback could have entered the game in the fourth quarter while preserving the eligibility of the starter and backup.