NFL challenge rule change: Explaining why league has new criteria for earning third replay review

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The NFL undergoes a series of rule changes ahead of each season and there are a few impactful differences in 2024.

While the new-look kickoff will certainly be the most noticeable change, there are more than a handful of others that diehard football fans will pick up on quickly.

One major change involves the NFL's challenge rules, finding a new way to reward teams for successfully correcting missed calls by the officials.

Here's how teams will be able to earn a potential third challenge review for the first time this season.

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NFL's new challenge rule change, explained

The NFL will implement a new challenge rule in 2024.

Teams will now earn a third replay challenge after just one successful challenge earlier in the game.

That means if a coach utilizes their first challenge and correctly overturns the call, they will be able to challenge two more plays in the game, regardless of the result of the second challenge.

In the past, coaches would only receive a third challenge if each of their first two challenges were successful.

To be clear: Teams still only start with one replay challenge and their first effort must be successful in order to earn a second (and now, third,) replay challenge.

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Other NFL replay rule changes and more

The NFL is also adding two more reviewable plays via replay.

Officials can now review whether a passer was down or out of bounds prior to throwing a pass. They will also be able to review whether the play clock expired before the ball was snapped.

The new challenge and replay rules add to a list that also includes new kickoffs, no chain gang, and allowing players to wear "guardian caps" over their helmets in live-game action, among others.

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Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.
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