When Did Instant Replay Start in the NFL?

A quick history of when instant replay started being used in the NFL, as well as a look at how it has changed over the years.

Introduction

Instant replay is a means of reviewing a play to determine the accuracy of the officials’ on-field call. It was first used in an NFL game in 1986, and has been refined and expanded ever since.

The current instant replay system is used on a challenge basis, with each team allowed two challenges per game. If a challenge is upheld, the team retains its timeout; if the challenge is overturned, the team uses a timeout. In addition, plays are automatically reviewed at certain key points in each game, such as scoring plays and turnovers.

The First Use of Instant Replay in the NFL

The first use of instant replay in an NFL game took place on December 7, 1986, during a game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The instant replay was used to review a play in which Jets player Al Toon appeared to catch a touchdown pass, but the ruling on the field was that he had not made the catch. After reviewing the play, the officials determined that Toon had indeed made the catch, and the touchdown stood.

Since that first use of instant replay in 1986, it has become an increasingly common tool for officials to use in order to correct mistakes or make sure that calls on the field are correct. Instant replay is now used in almost every NFL game, and it has been credited with helping to improve the accuracy of calls made by officials.

The Development of Instant Replay in the NFL

The development of instant replay in the NFL can be traced back to a 1965 playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Colts. After a controversial call early in the game, Packers head coach Vince Lombardi asked for a ruling from officials. When the officials were unable to provide a clear answer, Lombardi asked for a replay of the play. The officials consulted with NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, who was watching the game from a suite at Memorial Stadium, and agreed to stop play so that the play could be re-shown on the stadium’s scoreboard.

This was the first time that instant replay had been used in an NFL game, but it would not be used again for nearly 20 years. In 1986,NFL director of officiating Art McNally proposedinstant replay as a way to help officiate games more accurately. The proposal was met with resistance from many coaches and owners, who feared that it would slow down the game. McNally’s proposal was eventually approved by a vote of 21-7 by NFL owners, and instant replay was introduced for the 1986 season.

Since its introduction, instant replay has been used sparingly in the NFL. In its first year of use, there were only 15 reviewable plays in NFL games; by comparison, there were 18 reviewable plays in NFL games during the 2019 season. In 2009,Instant Replay was expandedto include all scoring plays and turnovers; however, this expansion was short-lived as Instant Replay was again reverted back to its original scope in 2012. Currently, Instant Replay can only be used to review certainplays such as scoring playsand turnovers.

The Current Use of Instant Replay in the NFL

The current use of instant replay in the NFL began in the 1986 season. In that year, the league instituted a rule that allowed teams to challenge certain plays. The head coach could throw a red flag on the field to challenge a play, and if the challenge was successful, the play would be reviewd.

If the challenge was unsuccessful, the opposing team would be given a 15 yard penalty. In 1999, the rule was changed so that each team would be given two challenges per game, regardless of whether or not they were successful. In 2007, yet another change was made so that each team would be given one challenge in the first half of the game, and two challenges in the second half if they had not used their first challenge.

The current use of instant replay has been credited with making the game fairer and more accurate. However, there have been some criticisms of instant replay as well. Some people argue that it takes too long to review plays, and that it disrupts the flow of the game. Additionally, some argue that it is not used consistently enough across all games and all calls.

Conclusion

Instant replay first came to the NFL in 1986, but it was used sparingly and only for specific situations. In 1998, the rules were expanded to allow coaches to challenge any play except for scoring plays or turnovers, but each team was only allowed two challenges per game. In 1999, the rules were again expanded to allow coaches to challenge any play at any time during the game, but each team was still limited to two challenges. In 2008, the rules were changed so that each team was allowed one challenge per game regardless of whether or not the challenge was successful. There have been additional changes since then, but that is the general history of instant replay in the NFL.