nfl officiating question

[Zebra29]

The reason for the switch is due to the perception that a coach can "work" the officials on his sideline and gain a call or two throughout the game. The idea of switching sides in theory minimizes the effect (real or perceived) of an official favoring one coach over the other.

This mechanic was born out of paranoia, and was something that coaches had asked for. It is slowly catching on, why exactly, I don't know. Perhaps in some cases, there's a bit of "Stockholm Syndrome" for officials working on a particular sideline.