NFL to allow coach's designee to initiate replay challenges

The NFL will allow head coaches to designate a member of their sideline staff to initiate replay challenges, a league official confirmed Monday.

Traditionally, head coaches have been the only member of a team that can declare a challenge by throwing the red flag. But that will change in 2026 if a coach prefers to assign the task to someone else, a decision he would have to inform officials of before the start of the game.

The change was not announced during the NFL's annual meeting where rule changes are typically voted on. But each summer the league makes tweaks when finalizing its rule book that don't require votes from ownership.