The National Football League has quietly modified its rules to permit assistant coaches to throw the challenge flag, a responsibility previously exclusive to head coaches. This change, enacted without a vote from team owners, alters Rule 15, Section 1 of the NFL's rulebook.
The updated language states, "The head coach or head coach's pregame challenge designee can initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick." If a head coach wishes to delegate this duty, they must inform the officiating crew prior to the game.
Historically, since the inception of current instant replay rules in 1999, only the head coach was allowed to initiate a challenge. This often involved the head coach consulting with staff in the coaches' booth before making the final decision, a process that is expected to continue even with the delegation of throwing the flag.
For instance, New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick was known for keeping the challenge flag in his sock, requiring him to adjust his attire to throw it. The new rule provides flexibility for coaches who may find such actions inconvenient or wish to streamline the process.
Teams are allocated two challenges per game, with the possibility of earning a third if one of their initial two challenges results in an overturned call. Replay review can be utilized for various situations, including scoring plays, turnovers, possession calls, whether a player was inbounds, or if a first down was achieved. Certain plays, such as scoring plays, turnovers, failed fourth-down conversions, possessions after a kick, and disqualifications, are automatically reviewed and cannot be challenged by teams.