In the 2026 NFL preseason, what could a head coach designate a sideline assistant to throw to initiate a replay review?

In the 2026 NFL preseason, a head coach could designate a sideline assistant to throw the red challenge flag to initiate a replay review.

The change was made just before the preseason and expanded the NFL's instant-replay procedure. Previously, only the head coach was permitted to throw the challenge flag. Under the 2026 rule, the coach could assign that duty to a sideline assistant, allowing the team to handle the formal challenge signal without requiring the head coach to make the throw personally.

The flag still served the same basic purpose: beginning a coach's challenge of a reviewable ruling. This was not the same as the Replay Assistant's separate ability to help officials with reviews, nor did it make every play reviewable.

The wording can cause confusion because several different flags appear during an NFL game. The challenge flag is red, while penalty flags are yellow. The 2026 adjustment changed who could throw the challenge flag, not the flag's color or its role in requesting a review.