10th Anniversary of Instant Replay

NFL 2009

After experimenting with instant replay during the 1996 and 1998 preseasons, the NFL introduced in 1999 a system of “Referee Replay Review” to aid officiating in the regular season. That system, with minor adjustments and augmentations along the way, was extended on several occasions by NFL owners and ultimately installed permanently in March 2007.

After 10 full seasons, instant replay has become an accepted and integral part of football.

Several other professional and amateur sports, including college football, have followed the NFL's lead and instituted some form of video replay during that time.

"I like instant replay," says Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach and former television analyst JOHN MADDEN. "I've always been for it. The people at home see it, the people in the stadium see it on the big screen, the coaches in the box see it -- everyone else sees it. I think the idea of using instant replay in officiating is a very good idea and it belongs in the game."

The NFL's current instant replay system gives coaches the ability to challenge certain types of on-field calls up until the two minute warning of each half. After the two-minute warning, and throughout all overtime play, a replay official may initiate a booth review of close plays.

There are limits on the frequency and duration of instant replays to help maintain the flow of the game. Each coach can challenge up to two plays per game (or three if his first two challenges are successful), but loses a timeout if the ruling on the field stands.

The call on the field can only be reversed if indisputable visual evidence exists. Each review lasts no more than 60 seconds, timed from when the referee begins his review of the replay at a field-level monitor.

Previously, the NFL had experimented with a limited system of instant replay from 1986-1991 on a year-by-year basis.

10-year history of the NFL's current instant replay system (1999-2008)

Year Games Total Replay Reviews Challenges Reversals
Source: National Football League
199924819513357
200024824717984
200124825819189
200225629420894
200325625518466
200425628323388
200525629522392
2006256311237107
2007256327250122
2008256315229117
TOTAL2,5362,7802,067916

 

NFL 2009 | 10th Anniversary of Instant Replay