NFL will allow pass interference, including non-calls, to be reviewed on replay in major rule shift

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Published 8:11 p.m. ET March 26, 2019 | Updated 8:44 p.m. ET March 26, 2019

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton got what he wanted.

NFL owners voted Tuesday night to allow offensive and defensive pass interference penalties, including non-calls, to be subject to challenge and review. For the 2019 season, coaches can challenge any flags or missed penalties until the final two minutes, when such instances are subject to booth review only.

"I personally believe it was the fact that every club wanted to get, and the league wanted to get these plays right," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at a news conference after the vote. "Replay is to get it right. And ultimately people compromised, I think, on long-held views because they want to get the system right. They want to get the play right."

Owners voted 31-1 in favor of expanded replay, with Mike Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals being the lone negative vote, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the result of the vote had not been made public.

The substantial shift comes on the heels of the Saints' NFC Championship Game loss to the Los Angeles Rams, in which Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman was not called for a pass interference penalty against New Orleans receiver Tommylee Lewis in the final two minutes of the game.

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