The NFL expedited review is a faster replay process designed to correct clear and obvious officiating mistakes without the need for a full coach’s challenge. Instead of waiting for a team to throw a challenge flag, replay officials — either in the stadium booth or at the league’s Art McNally GameDay Central in New York — can step in immediately when a mistake is evident on video.
This rule falls under the Replay Assistance Rule, which allows league officials to quickly advise on-field referees to change or confirm a call when indisputable video evidence is available. The process aims to speed up decisions, reduce unnecessary stoppages, and ensure the most accurate outcomes possible.
⸻
How the NFL Expedited Review Works
Here’s how the expedited review process typically unfolds:
- Replay officials monitor every play in real time from the booth and the league’s central command center.
- If they identify an obvious officiating error, such as a wrong ball spot, missed out-of-bounds call, or clear change of possession, they can initiate communication with the referee immediately.
- The on-field referee receives this input through their headset, reviews the information briefly, and then announces the corrected ruling without conducting a full formal review.
Because the process skips several time-consuming steps of a normal replay challenge, it’s often completed within seconds rather than minutes — hence the term “expedited.”
⸻
Why the NFL Introduced Expedited Reviews
The NFL introduced expedited reviews to improve pace of play and fairness. Traditional reviews can drag on, sometimes lasting over two minutes, which disrupts the flow of the game and frustrates both fans and players.
With expedited reviews, the league can fix obvious mistakes almost instantly, leading to:
- Shorter review times (the average review time dropped from over 2 minutes to around 1 minute and 25 seconds in recent seasons).
- Fewer coach challenges, since officials can intervene directly.
- More accurate outcomes, particularly on critical plays like fumbles, touchdowns, or boundary rulings.
⸻
Limitations and Controversies
Despite its benefits, the expedited review process has sparked criticism and confusion among fans, coaches, and analysts. The main complaints center around inconsistency — the rule is only applied when there is “clear and obvious video evidence,” which can be subjective.
Some plays that appear reviewable to fans are not corrected through expedited review, while others are changed almost instantly. Critics argue that the lack of transparency in when and how the league triggers the process leads to frustration and perceptions of bias.
Additionally, not every play qualifies for expedited review. If the replay officials determine the evidence is unclear or inconclusive, the normal challenge or booth review process must be used instead.
⸻
Examples of Expedited Review Situations
Expedited reviews have been used for:
- Correcting a missed out-of-bounds call on a completed pass.
- Changing the spot of the football when video clearly shows the runner’s knee down earlier.
- Fixing an incomplete pass ruling when slow-motion replay confirms a catch.
However, the system is not used for subjective calls such as pass interference, holding, or roughing the passer — those still require standard replay review or cannot be reviewed at all under current NFL rules.
⸻
Why It Matters
The expedited review process represents the NFL’s effort to blend technology with traditional officiating for a faster, fairer, and more efficient game. By catching obvious mistakes quickly, the league maintains integrity while minimizing interruptions that slow down the action.
Still, as with many NFL rule innovations, its effectiveness depends on consistent application and clear communication with teams, broadcasters, and fans.
⸻
Final Thoughts
The NFL expedited review is a modern solution for an age-old problem — officiating errors that disrupt the game. It allows replay officials to step in immediately when video clearly shows a mistake, helping referees make the right call faster than ever.
But as debates continue about consistency and transparency, the league faces ongoing pressure to refine the system. As technology evolves, expect the expedited review to remain a crucial — and sometimes controversial — part of how the NFL ensures fairness on game day.