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NFL Allows Coaches' Staff to Throw Challenge Flag Starting 2026

8/11/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Starting in 2026, each NFL head coach may designate a sideline staffer to throw the red challenge flag.
Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1(a) now permits the coach or designee to initiate a challenge before the next snap or kick, with only one initiator per team.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted 151 coach challenges in 2025—the highest since 2019—and said coaches will likely stay involved via headset.

History

Historical Context

The NFL first tried instant replay in 1986, dropped it in 1991, and reinstated a two-challenge system in 1999 under Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. That season coaches lodged roughly 1,000 challenges, with the New York Giants overturning 62 % of theirs. Building on that legacy, the 2026 rule lets a sideline staffer throw the red flag, expanding who can initiate reviews.

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Story summary

Starting in 2026, each NFL head coach may designate a sideline staffer to throw the red challenge flag.
Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1(a) now permits the coach or designee to initiate a challenge before the next snap or kick, with only one initiator per team.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert noted 151 coach challenges in 2025—the highest since 2019—and said coaches will likely stay involved via headset.

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