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

A subtle but potentially significant change will be introduced in the NFL starting with the 2026 season.

Head coaches will no longer be required to personally throw the famous red flag when they wish to request a video review.

The league has confirmed that a head coach will now be able to designate a member of his staff in advance to handle challenges with the officials. This person must be identified before the start of the game.

Until now, this responsibility fell exclusively to the head coach. When a referees' call seemed to warrant further review, it was up to the head coach to make the decision and throw the red flag onto the field.

The change is now included in Rule 15 of the NFL rulebook. The new wording clearly allows the head coach or the person he has previously designated to initiate a challenge before the next play.

However, this change was not put to a vote during the traditional annual rules meeting. The NFL regularly makes certain administrative or procedural changes during the summer without going through this process.

A Decision That Could Change How Video Challenges Are Handled

The value of this new procedure becomes clear when looking at recent statistics. In 2025, NFL head coaches filed 151 challenges—the highest total recorded since 2019.

Some coaches have, in fact, admitted in the past to requesting a review based on emotion rather than on a genuine strategic analysis. The ability to entrust this task to a specifically designated person could therefore add an extra layer of scrutiny before certain decisions are made.

The idea is, in particular, to allow a staff member to take a step back and objectively assess a disputed play before calling for a review.

That said, delegating this responsibility does not necessarily mean the head coach will lose control of the process. Staff members have communication systems that allow them to quickly consult with the bench.

A head coach could thus still exert significant influence over the decision, even if someone else is now responsible for officially throwing down the red flag.

The 2026 NFL season will therefore reveal whether this change will actually have an impact on the strategy surrounding video challenges.

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