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Penalties and replay

16 questions new fans ask, answered in plain English. Each answer links the rulebook or league page it comes from.

What does the yellow flag mean?

An official throws a yellow flag when he sees a rules violation (a foul). The play usually finishes first, and then the referee announces the penalty.

Source: Football Terms (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What's a false start?

An offensive player moves illegally before the snap, such as a lineman flinching. It's a 5-yard penalty, and the play is stopped before it starts.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

Offside, encroachment, neutral zone infraction: what's the difference?

All three are defensive pre-snap fouls worth 5 yards. Offside means being across the line at the snap. Encroachment means crossing and touching an opponent or the ball before the snap. A neutral zone infraction means moving into the neutral zone and causing an offensive player to flinch.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · Football Terms (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

How much is holding?

Offensive holding is 10 yards. Defensive holding is 5 yards plus an automatic first down. A 2025 proposal to drop that automatic first down failed, so it still applies.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · 2025 NFL rule, bylaw and resolution changes (TheRams.com) · link to this answer

What is pass interference?

It's illegal contact with a receiver while the ball is in the air. Defensive pass interference gives the offense the ball at the spot of the foul with a first down (at the 1-yard line if the foul is in the end zone). Offensive pass interference is 10 yards.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What's roughing the passer?

It's an illegal hit on a quarterback who has thrown the ball, such as a late hit or a blow to the head. It's 15 yards, and defensive personal fouls like this also give the offense a first down.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What counts as a personal foul?

Personal fouls cover dangerous contact, like unnecessary roughness or grabbing and twisting a face mask. They're 15 yards. Unsportsmanlike conduct, such as taunting, is also 15 yards.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · Football Terms (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What is delay of game?

If the offense doesn't snap the ball before the play clock runs out, it loses 5 yards.

Source: 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · NFL Video Rulebook: Play Clock (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What is intentional grounding?

A quarterback under pressure throws the ball away with no realistic chance of a completion (no eligible receiver nearby). The penalty is loss of down plus yardage. If he does it from his own end zone, it's a safety.

Source: NFL Rules Digest (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

Can a team refuse a penalty?

Yes. The team that was fouled can decline the penalty if the result of the play is better for it. The referee shows a declined penalty by folding his arms.

Source: Guide to the Officials' Signals (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

What do the referee's hand signals mean?

The NFL uses more than 35 official signals. For example, both arms raised means a score, a hand gripping the wrist means holding, and striking one wrist over the other above the head means a personal foul. Referees have also worn microphones to explain calls since 1975.

Source: Guide to the Officials' Signals (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

How does a coach challenge a call?

The coach throws a red flag before the next play. Each team gets two challenges, plus a third if at least one of its first two is successful. A lost challenge costs a timeout.

Source: 2024 NFL Rulebook (NFL Football Operations) - unchanged basics: field, timing, timeouts · NFL Rules Digest (NFL Football Operations) · Trade press (ESPN): Inside the NFL challenge process · link to this answer

Which plays are reviewed automatically?

Scoring plays, turnovers, every play after the two-minute warning of each half and all overtime plays are reviewed by replay officials, so coaches don't need to challenge them. Teams aren't charged timeouts for these official reviews.

Source: NFL Rules Digest (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

Can replay add or remove penalties?

In a limited way. Since 2025, "replay assist" can step in when video clearly shows something objective, such as a face mask, horse-collar tackle, tripping or a defender actually touching the ball before hitting the kicker. For 2026, league officials can also help decide whether a flagrant act deserves an ejection, even if no flag was thrown.

Source: Looking at tweak to kickoff, other rules changes for 2025 season (NFL.com) · Featured Rules: 2025 rule changes (NFL Football Operations) · NFL announces new playing rules, bylaws, resolutions for 2026 (NFL.com) · Trade press (Football Zebras): NFL owners approve rule changes for 2026 · link to this answer

Can a player be thrown out of a game?

Yes, for flagrant hits or non-football acts like fighting. In 2026, league officiating staff can consult with on-field officials about a disqualification before the next snap, even if the act wasn't flagged on the field.

Source: NFL announces new playing rules, bylaws, resolutions for 2026 (NFL.com) · Trade press (Sports Illustrated): Explaining five new NFL rules for 2026 · 2026 NFL Rulebook: index, 2026 rule changes and penalty tables (NFL Football Operations) · link to this answer

Are regular officials working in 2026?

Yes. The NFL and the NFL Referees Association agreed to a seven-year deal in May 2026, so replacement officials weren't needed. A one-year backup rule for that situation was passed but hasn't been needed.

Source: Trade press (National Football Post): NFL reaches 7-year deal with referees association · NFL announces new playing rules, bylaws, resolutions for 2026 (NFL.com) · link to this answer