Officiating crews for the 2019 AAF season

Professional football continues for under the banner of the Alliance of American Football, which begins its inaugural season Feb. 9, just six days after Super Bowl LIII.

The Alliance uses the 8-person mechanics of the NCAA and has 48 officials from Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on six crews. This differs from the NFL in that the umpire is lined up behind the linebackers and an eighth official, the center judge, is used. (Also the position of down judge has its legacy “H” designation, but it is now the “head line judge,” consistent with the NCAA.) Each crew also has a replay official, most of whom have NFL replay experience. A tenth official, known as the “sky judge,” is allowed to intervene in cases where there are missed fouls or flags that should be picked up. The sky judge has been described to Football Zebras as being the game supervisor assigned to the game. There are 4 sky judges and are not attached to the crew. The sky judge can exercise this intervention if their call comes before the next snap, but cannot otherwise stop the game to conduct a review.

Pac-12 referee Steve Strimling is the Alliance coordinator of officials. Former NFL vice presidents of officiating Mike Pereira and Dean Blandino are consultants.

Several of the officials have been scouted by the NFL under its Officiating Development Program. The AAF gives them critical grass time in a professional rule set which has been lacking since NFL Europe folded in 2007. No doubt the NFL is closely monitoring these games, but the league had no formal role in the staffing process. Three women, all of whom have been in the ODP program, are on the field for the Alliance, joining replay official Terri Valenti, who also an NFL replay official.

One official formerly worked in the NFL, and left abruptly in 2015 for an undisclosed reason which was characterized only as not due to officiating performance. Another official worked for 2 seasons in the defunct United Football League.

Officials are listed by their position and uniform number, their current college conference, and seasons worked in an NFL development program. Former NFL players are indicated with their playing experience. Assignments for last season’s major bowl games or conference championships are listed. The ODP seasons are listed (or the “Advanced Development Program” from 2013-14), except where noted: *assigned to a college invitational exhibition game only, ^†development program for former players.

(Crews are subject to change, especially when there are scheduling obligations to their college conferences.)

Swing replay official: Brian Lopinto