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NFL will eject coaches for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties

Chicago Bears v Indianapolis Colts

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 09: John Fox, head coach of the Chicago Bears, speaks to a referee on the sidelines during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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In baseball and basketball, managers and coaches are routinely ejected from games for yelling at officials. In the NFL, that never happens: No head coach in NFL history has ever been ejected from a game.

This year, that may change.

An addition to this year’s rulebook makes clear that the new rule resulting in automatic ejections for two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls applies not only to players but also to “non-player personnel (e.g., management personnel, coaches, trainers, equipment personnel).”

The two-foul rule applies only to certain types of fouls, including abusive language toward an opponent or official. It’s rare for a coach to get flagged for abusive language twice in one game, but it’s at least possible that it could happen.

If it does happen, that coach will earn the dubious distinction of being the first head coach ever to be disqualified from an NFL game.