A slight change to an NFL rule has been set before the start of the 2026 season, but it’s nothing new for Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.He admitted he’s technically been breaking an NFL rule for the past eight years.The change is that each team’s head coach will be able to delegate the ability to use the red challenge flag to someone else on the staff if they so wish.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMZac Taylor, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, talks to the media during training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 29, 2026.(Getty Images)It was the responsibility of the head coach to challenge a play, throwing the red flag on the field for review.Now, the head coach has the ability to name a pregame challenge designee that will be responsible for those moments during the game.VIKINGS QUARTERBACK BATTLE MEETS EXPECTED END AS KYLER MURRAY BEATS OUT JJ MCCARTHY FOR STARTING JOBBut in 2019, when Taylor was named the Bengals’ head coach, he wasn’t the one holding the flag.
It was Doug Rosfeld, his chief of coaching staff, throwing the flag instead.That’s the way Taylor has been running that aspect of his many duties as head coach, which he revealed on Tuesday during his press conference."We’ve been breaking that rule for eight years because I’ve never thrown a challenge flag," he said.Taylor even added that he’d let referees know he wasn’t the one throwing it before the game, and they never took an issue with Rosfeld having that duty."They ask you that in pregame, who’s got the flag," Taylor mentioned."It’s never been an issue.
I didn’t even know it was frowned upon.I know there’s other coaches in the league, I’m not the only one who’s done that.
I saw they implemented a new rule, so maybe we’ll get a retroactive fine or something."Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor calls out during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburg...