The NFL is using two new kicking mechanics this season on field goal and extra point attempts and on free kicks (kickoffs). Football Zebras contacted the NFL officiating office to see if these changes are a preseason experiment or will be permanent; however the NFL did not respond to our request at
Author: Mark Schultz
Mark Schultz is a high school football official, freelance writer and journalist. He first became interested in officiating when he was six years old, was watching a NFL game with his father and asked the fateful question, "Dad, what are those guys in the striped shirts doing?"
After unprecedented referee turnover, 4 officials will try out to get the next promotion
The NFL is giving four of its officials the chance to audition to be future referees, or white hats. Since there are so few opportunities for the NFL to see how prospective referees would handle the new position, these preseason tryouts are very important. The NFL will assign the four officials to one
No eight-person crew experiments this preseason
For the past several preseasons, the NFL has experimented with eight-person crews. Football Zebras has learned that experiment is on hold this year. Eight-person crews started in the NCAA. In college, the eighth official is the center judge, who lines up in the offensive backfield with the referee. NCAA umpires stay in their
3 observations from the Hall of Fame Game
NFL takes a hit after four referee retirements
Embed from Getty Images Every generation of NFL officiating gives way to the next. This past offseason, we saw, very quickly and dramatically, one generation give way to the next. Referees Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore, Terry McAulay and Jeff Triplette represent 88-years of experience at the referee position. That is 88-years
NFL has several options for Steratore’s replacement
Terry McAulay quits NFL for NBC
In a monumentally stunning move, NFL referee Terry McAulay, arguably the best referee on the NFL roster, has retired, as announced by senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron. https://twitter.com/alriveron/status/1009814475652894721 Multiple sources tell Football Zebras that McAulay will likely join Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth in the NBC booth as a rules analyst for
Father’s Day crews
NFL and CFL continue officiating partnership
http://gty.im/641513974 The Canadian Football League and the NFL will continue to exchange officials in the early part of the CFL season and the NFL preseason. This is the third year of the NFL-CFL officiating exchange program. NFL officials will go north of the border in the summer and call games in the first
