NFL Officially Getting Rid of Pass Interference Video Review

NFL Competitions Committee chairman Rich McKay made the announcement on SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday, explaining that the rule has met its "natural death."

pass interference
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Image via Getty/Adam Glanzman

pass interference

The NFL announced that it's scrapping video review for pass interference calls next season.

NFL Competitions Committee chairman Rich McKay made the announcement on SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday, explaining that the rule has met its "natural death."

Chairman of the Competition Committee Rich McKay tells us OPI/DPI Replay Review will not be returning....

⬇️AUDIO⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NzbATgNFgv

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 7, 2020

NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay confirms to @SiriusXMNFL that pass interference penalties will NOT be reviewable again in 2020. “We’re not going to vote on - because nobody is putting forward - the OPI/DPI review again."

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 7, 2020

The NFL implemented the new rule during the 2019 season, which allowed for offensive and defensive pass interference calls and non-calls to be subject to review. The actual rules of what was defined as pass interference never changed, but referees rarely overturned original calls, despite challenges from coaches.

While the rule was initially implemented to try and avoid another catastrophic no-call like the one that lead to the Los Angeles Rams playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints in 2018, many felt that the rule ended up muddying the game even further. For instance, in the Cardinals vs. Buccaneers game last season, the Cardinals were robbed of an extra play after what many thought was pass interference. Unfortunately, coaches are not allowed to ask for a replay review under the 2-minute mark in each half, and the league didn't overturn the call. 

Pretty sure Cardinals GM Steve Keim thought it was PI. pic.twitter.com/DckyGfbeVH

— Dan Hanzus (@DanHanzus) November 10, 2019

Needless to say, the elimination of this rule was welcome news to NFL fans, with many taking to Twitter to voice their agreement.

Now we can just go back to being pissed off at bad pass interference calls/no-calls, not pissed off at bad reviews of them. https://t.co/CDAhVNq3rE

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) May 7, 2020

Can't wait to tell my kids all about that one season in the NFL where Pass Interference was challengeable on instant replay https://t.co/pCUvRbuHDs

— Joe Hall (@JP_Halll) May 7, 2020

It was dead before the first game kicked off last year.
You could put a dozen plays last season on a video to teach new refs what pass interference is, and the no-calls were not overturned. https://t.co/PN9YeA3fwp

— Jason Gough (@Jason_Weather) May 7, 2020

The NFL is killing pass interference reviews because the NFL intentionally failed at enacting a proper pass interference review process. A total sham. https://t.co/0KGYU84bNg

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) May 7, 2020

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