At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, a surprising revelation emerged about replay errors in the league. Sean Payton, an experienced head coach and member of the NFL's competition committee, expressed his surprise upon learning that most replay errors last season occurred during the 1 p.m. Sunday games.
This insight, shared by ESPN's Kalyn Kahler, highlighted a lesser-discussed aspect of NFL officiating. The data, presented by Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, revealed that out of 171 replay review or replay assist decisions made during the 2025 regular season, five were identified as mistakes.
Remarkably, four of these errors happened during the 1 p.m. ET window.
Vincent reflected on the situation, noting, "There were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed. Four of them [were] in the one o'clock window. Just volume and you go, 'Ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it.'"
Payton didn't hold back his thoughts on the matter, stating, "I don't like hearing that. I want to play in the four o'clock window.
I'm glad I'm in Denver. We should never have a work shortage in replay."
The discussion didn't stop there. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, also on the competition committee, advocated for a review of staffing to ensure consistency across all games, whether they're prime-time or the early Sunday matchups.
"We need to evaluate staffing at that level," Vrabel emphasized. "To find out and make sure that every game is treated the same."
Adding another layer to the conversation, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, who has a broadcasting background, pointed out the disparity in camera coverage. He explained that early-window games typically have fewer camera angles compared to prime-time broadcasts, which could impact replay accuracy. Lynch suggested that the committee consider implementing fixed stadium cameras to ensure replay officials have consistent views, regardless of the broadcast crew.
This discussion at the combine underscores a critical area for improvement in NFL officiating, with key voices in the league advocating for changes to enhance fairness and accuracy in all game windows.