NFL Legalizes Sideline Chatter

It seems odd to the modern football fan, but the rules did not always permit coaching from the sidelines, even by head coaches.

April 20, 1944 - NFL legalizes coaching from the bench. According to an article found in the Mason City, Iowa’s Globe-Gazette on that day by the United Press, NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden announced that the League would adopt a rule similar to professional ice hockey where players could enter the game freely without resorting to an official during periods when play was suspended.

Also, kick-offs that went out of bounds were determined as fouls, and the offending team would receive a five-yard penalty. The coaching rule allowed coaches to openly move around within ten yards of the center of the bench on either side, and it allowed players to come to the bench to talk to the coach during timeouts for instruction.