NFL Football Challenge Rules

In 1999, the National Football League (NFL) introduced a new instant replay system to replace the previous limited instant replay system in that was developed in 1986. The current system allows coaches to challenge on-field calls in certain areas of play before a new play begins by throwing a red flag, as long as the game is not within the last two minutes of either half.

  1. Coach's Challenges

    • The coach of each team playing in an NFL game is permitted two opportunities to challenge on-field calls before the next play begins, and as long as they are not in the final two minutes of either half. To make a coach's challenge, a red flag must be thrown on an admissible play before the ball is snapped to start the next play and the team must have at least one time out remaining.

    Types

    • Coaches challenges can only be be used in certain instances, including pass completions or interceptions, scoring or out-of-bounds plays, forward pass or progress plays, fumbles or loose ball recovery calls and down-by-contact plays. First down determinations, the touching of a kick and other plays involving the placement of the football may also be challenged withing the allotted time constraints, as well as calling attention to whether a legal number of players were on the field when the ball was snapped.

    Time Outs

    • NFL teams can not challenge an on-field call if they have no more time outs allotted to them for that half, as teams lose a time out if a challenge fails to overturn a call. If a referee does find it necessary to overturn a call because of incontrovertible evidence, the appropriate call is issued and no time out is lost. Just before the 2004 season, the NFL amended the instant replay system to allow a third coach's challenge for a team whose original two challenges were successful.

    Reviews & Rulings

    • Once a coach has called for a challenge, the referee is allotted 60 seconds to watch all available instant replays and decide if the original call stands, with an additional 30 seconds to communicate with the replay booth and other officials and decide his ruling. If the referee, sees unquestionable visual evidence to overturn a call, he must do so without incident and the game continues.