PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 28: National Football League referee Walt Anderson #66 looks at the monitor in the instant replay booth used to review challenged plays during a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 28, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Buccaneers defeated the Steelers 27-24. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)George Gojkovich/Getty Images

NFL Owners Vote to Centralize Instant Replay in New York Command Center

Mike ChiariMar 28, 2017

On Tuesday, NFL owners voted unanimously at the league meetings in Phoenix to have a centralized instant-replay command center in New York spearheaded by Senior Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino.

According to NFL Network's Kimberly Jones, that means on-field officials will no longer go "under the hood" to make replay determinations themselves, as the command center will be handing down decisions.

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Per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the on-field referee will have a tablet to review the play and will be able to make recommendations, but the league office will have the final say.

Maske added the move is largely an attempt to streamline the replay process and quicken the pace of games.

Instant replay was first introduced into the NFL in 1986, and the current challenge system was installed in 1999.

While the referee has always made replay decisions, the new system will mirror ones that the NHL and MLB utilize.