XFL provides stunning level of transparency on reviews

General view of the field during the first half at of a game between the Vegas Vipers and the Arlington Renegades at Choctaw Stadium. Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: XFL provides stunning level of transparency on replay reviews

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 2/18/23

The XFL returned on Saturday for its 2023 season and it introduced a new feature that offers a stunning level of clarity and transparency into its instant replay reviews.

The broadcast showed real time communication between the on-field officials and VP of officiating Dean Blandino, offering an up close look at the process of confirming or overturning the call.

Have a look:

A look at the XFL Command Center and replay system on the ESPN broadcast.

Dean Blandino, the XFL VP of officiating and rules innovation, relays a review ruling to the ref. pic.twitter.com/VPiNQNedgJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 18, 2023

If nothing else, that completely removes any of the guesswork into why a call was or was not made.

When the XFL originally debuted years ago there were some innovations from the league that transferred over to the NFL, including the skycam and microphones on players.

But it really seems like a stretch to ever imagine the NFL giving fans this sort of look at the instant replay process as it happens.

The league might make officials available to talk about controversial calls. It might offer explanations for why things were called after the fact.

But this seems like it just might be a bridge too far for the league during games. That is a shame, because it is an absolutely fantastic feature for fans.

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