The NFL competition committee is currently discussing a significant rule change that would authorize replay officials to throw flags for specific penalties, according to reports from Kevin Seifert and Mike Reiss of ESPN.
The proposal under consideration would allow officials stationed in the replay booth to intervene and call penalties that were missed by the crew on the field. While the specific list of penalties has not been finalized, the discussions focus on providing the booth with the authority to ensure egregious or objective fouls are addressed during the flow of the game. The news was shared via Adam Schefter.
Currently, the NFL utilizes a replay assistant to help with objective rulings such as catch/no-catch decisions and ball spotting. However, the power to actually throw a flag for a penalty has traditionally remained exclusive to the seven officials on the field. If adopted, this change would mark a major evolution in the league's use of technology and officiating oversight to assist in game management.
The competition committee typically evaluates these potential rule changes during the offseason before presenting them to team owners for a final vote. Any official change would require approval from 24 of the 32 NFL owners to be implemented for the 2026 season.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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