The NFL is making changes to its game challenge system that will apply starting with the 2026 season. The adjustment shifts responsibility away from only the head coach, altering who has the authority to initiate challenges during games.
Both outlets describe the change as significant, but they frame it in terms of the same core point: the ability to “run it back” (i.e., request a replay review) will no longer rest solely with the coach. The reports do not provide full detail in the provided excerpts on the exact roles, procedures, or limitations that will govern who can challenge and in what situations.
Overall, the coverage centers on the transfer of control within the officiating/replay process for 2026, while differing outlets largely echo the same rationale and direction—expanding challenge authority beyond the head coach rather than leaving it with one person.
