NFL head coaches will have a new option when it comes to throwing the red flag during games. Beginning with the 2026 season, coaches will be allowed to designate a member of their sideline staff to initiate replay challenges, a league official confirmed Monday. Rule 15, Section 1, Article 1(a) now states that “the head coach or head coach’s pregame challenge designee” can initiate a challenge before the next legal snap or kick. Having another staff member responsible for throwing the flag could provide a layer of separation and potentially prevent an emotional challenge. The new procedure changes who can physically initiate a challenge, but the head coach will remain at the center of the decision-making process.