Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott is taking proactive steps to enhance his team's decision-making on red challenge flags by bringing on board former NFL official John Parry. A person briefed on the hiring confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Monday, speaking on the condition of anonymity as the team has yet to formally announce the decision. The New York Post was the first to report Buffalo's hiring of Parry as an officiating liaison.

In a move believed to be a first in the NFL, the Bills are enlisting Parry's expertise to assist McDermott in navigating the complexities of challenge flag decisions. While many networks have enlisted former officials for penalty analysis, this marks a significant step for a team to integrate an official into its coaching staff.

Parry boasts an impressive 19-year career as an NFL official, culminating in 12 seasons as a referee, including officiating three Super Bowls before retiring after the 2018 season. Following his officiating tenure, Parry spent the last five years as a rules analyst for ESPN, further honing his expertise in NFL rules and officiating mechanics.

This hiring marks a novel initiative for McDermott, who enters his eighth season as the Bills' coach. McDermott's track record with challenge flags has been mixed, with a success rate of just three out of six challenges last season and an overall overturn rate of 10 out of 33 plays, including playoffs, according to Pro Football Reference. By contrast, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid has found greater success with challenges, hitting on four out of five last season and boasting an overall record of 72 successful challenges out of 143.

The addition of Parry to the Bills' coaching staff reflects McDermott's commitment to refining the team's decision-making process and maximizing their chances of success on game day. As the NFL continues to evolve, innovative approaches like this one could become more common as teams seek every possible advantage in pursuit of victory.