NFL Expands Replay-Challenge Authority to Designated Staff Members Starting in 2026

Beginning with the 2026 season, the NFL’s instant-replay rulebook will allow each head coach to name a pre-game “challenge designee.” That individual—selected from the coach’s sideline staff—may throw the red flag to initiate a review before the next legal snap or kick. The change does not increase the number of people who can challenge; only one person per team may do so on any given play.

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The amendment was not announced at the NFL’s annual owners’ meeting, where most rule changes are voted on. Instead, a league official confirmed Monday that the adjustment was made during the summer “tweaks” process, which does not require an ownership vote. Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported that the league filed the new wording as a procedural update to the rulebook.

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In the 2025 season, NFL coaches filed 151 challenges—the highest total recorded since 2019. The league’s own data highlight that some coaches have previously cited emotional motives for challenging calls, prompting the league to consider a “firewall” that a designated staff member could provide.

NFL makes drastic changes to how coaches can challenge plays

Team officials argue that delegating the flag-throwing task may reduce impulsive, emotion-driven challenges while preserving the head coach’s strategic oversight. Because all sideline personnel communicate through headsets, the head coach is expected to remain heavily involved in the decision-making process, even if another staff member physically throws the flag. The optional nature of the designation means that some coaches may retain the traditional approach, while others could experiment with a more collaborative review process.

NFL: A new rule will allow NFL coaches to delegate their challenges

A league representative who requested anonymity explained that the rule is an “either/or” provision: if a coach designates a staff member, the head coach will no longer be permitted to throw the flag themselves. Nonetheless, the head coach can still offer the final verdict after consulting with the designee via the existing communication system. The same official noted that the change was introduced without a formal vote because it falls under the category of administrative adjustments the league routinely makes in the offseason.

NFL: A new rule will allow NFL coaches to delegate their challenges

Early reporting suggests that high-profile coaches such as Sean McVay, Mike Vrabel, Kyle Shanahan, and Nick Sirianni—who posted success rates above 50 percent entering the 2025 campaign—may be among the first to test the new delegation model. Conversely, coaches with lower success rates, like Jim Harbaugh, might retain the traditional responsibility to maintain tighter control over challenge decisions.

NFL makes drastic changes to how coaches can challenge plays

If the designated-staff approach curtails emotionally driven challenges, teams could see a modest shift in challenge success rates and overall game flow. The change also underscores the NFL’s willingness to fine-tune procedural rules without requiring full ownership approval, signaling a more agile rule-making process for future adjustments.

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The 2026 season will reveal whether the optional designee system materially alters coaching strategies around video reviews or simply adds a new layer of flexibility for teams.

NFL: A new rule will allow NFL coaches to delegate their challenges