Report: NFL Expected to Expand Replay Assist for Hits on QB Slides in 2025 Season

The NFL is expected to expand its replay assist to account for plays that could include the quarterback slide over the offseason, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter noted that additional elements including the slide may be added "especially" after the Divisional round of the playoffs, as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drew a controversial unnecessary roughness penalty on the Houston Texans while sliding in the third quarter of their postseason clash.

Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o, who was flagged on the play, didn't agree with the call after the game.

"It makes me mad," To'oTo'o said following the loss. "But it is what it is, honestly. Nothing much you can do."

While unnecessary roughness penalties can often result in a fine at a later date, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that To'oTo'o's hit on Mahomes did not rise to the level of a fine.

The NFL's competition committee will meet throughout the offseason before voting on rule changes at the league's annual meeting in late March, per Schefter. An expanded replay assist system is a topic that is set to be discussed, which should include quarterback slides.

The subject of late slides from quarterbacks resulting in unnecessary roughness flags has been brought up throughout the 2024 season, with Dallas Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons previously calling for the league to step in.

"I just think the NFL should do a better job clearing up the gray area," Parsons told reporters on Dec. 5 (h/t SI.com's Tyler Lauletta). "If a quarterback acts like he's going out of bounds, he should go out of bounds, that's where you should mark him at. If he's acting like he's going to slide, that's where you should mark him at. Because at that point, it's the contact issue."

Changes to rules regarding quarterbacks sliding to the ground when scrambling outside the pocket could be implemented ahead of the 2025 regular season.