NFL’s Rule Revision Aligns with Bengals Coach Zac Taylor’s Practice

The NFL has introduced a minor rule alteration effective before the 2026 season. This change is familiar territory for Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor as it aligns with his past practice.

Traditionally, NFL rules mandated that only the head coach could use the red challenge flag during games. Now, the head coach can assign this responsibility to another staff member if desired.

Zac Taylor, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, during training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 29, 2026. (Getty Images)

Since Taylor’s appointment as the Bengals’ head coach in 2019, he has bypassed this rule. The task of challenging plays by throwing the red flag fell to Doug Rosfeld, Taylor’s chief of coaching staff.

“We’ve been breaking that rule for eight years because I’ve never thrown a challenge flag,” he stated in a recent press conference.

Taylor has always informed referees beforehand of Rosfeld’s role, and this practice has never raised concerns.

“They ask you that in pregame, who’s got the flag,” Taylor explained. “It’s never been an issue. I didn’t even know it was frowned upon.”

Several coaches prefer to personally carry the red challenge flag during games. Some tuck it in their pant pockets, while others, like Bill Belichick, prefer keeping it in their socks.

For Taylor, delegating this task allows him to focus on play-calling and engage directly with players at critical moments. Rosfeld assesses any plays requiring a challenge during this time.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

This rule change formalizes Taylor’s longstanding practice, leaving him largely unaffected.

“It’s easier for me,” Taylor said. “I feel better with Doug having it.”

Zac Taylor stands on the sideline at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2026. (Getty Images)