NFL Replay Challenge Rules

The National Football League has adopted many rules through the years to improve the game and maintain its integrity. One such rule is the Instant Replay Challenge rule. The rule allows for review of questionable plays immediately. This helps, in most cases, to end the argument over botched calls that have the possibility of changing the outcome of the game.

  1. History

    • In 1986, the NFL had limited instant-replay rules. The current instant-replay system began in 1999 and allows for the opportunity to challenge the call made on the field of play.

    Procedure

    • In order to challenge a call on the field of play a coach is required to throw a red flag, which signals to the referee that he is challenging the call. The referee then has 60 seconds to watch the instant replay and decide if the original call is correct. There must be incontrovertible visual evidence to overturn the call on the field.

    Restrictions

    • Each coach is allowed two challenges per game. In order to use a challenge they must have at least one time out left and the play has to be reviewable. If the next play is under way a challenge can't be made. Once the two-minute warning has been sounded there are no challenges allowed. All reviews are done automatically in the booth by the replay assistant, who signals to the referee if a review is necessary.

    Reviewable Calls

    • Among the calls that can be reviewed are scoring plays, out-of-bounds calls, passes that are ruled complete or incomplete, interceptions, recovery of a loose ball in or out of bounds and quarterback pass or fumble. According to the NFL, in 2008, field goals and extra point attempts were added to this list.

    Penalty

    • If a challenge is made and the call is not overturned, then the challenging team loses a timeout. If the call does get overturned there is no loss of a timeout.