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Hochuli, Blakeman, Cheffers, and Vinovich are Divisional Playoff referees

Football Zebras learned the referees assigned for the Divisional Playoffs and we are working to confirm the full crews.

Five alternates are assigned to each game: a referee, an umpire, a line of scrimmage official (down judge or line judge), a deep wing official (field judge or side judge), and a back judge.

The prior playoff experience that is listed for the crew chief includes his service as an NFL official, including as referee and any other crew position (excluding alternate assignments). Also of note, the eventual Super Bowl officials are on the field for this weekend’s games, but not all are from the same crew.

All times are Eastern. Scheduled assignments are subject to change.

Saturday, Jan. 21

AFC Divisional: Jaguars at Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. NBC Peacock

Shawn Hochuli is the referee, who is in his 9th season and 5th as referee. This is Hochuli’s 7th postseason assignment, including a Wild Card Playoff and 6 Divisional Playoffs.

Yrs2022 crewCollegeOccupation
R83Shawn Hochuli9 Claremontfinancial advisor
U121Paul King14ClarkNichols Collegeteacher
DJ113Danny Short6KempNorth Carolina-Charlotteexecutive director, global sales operations
LJ98Greg Bradley14HochuliTennesseechemical engineer
FJ43Terry Brown17BlakemanTennesseecourt director
SJ125Chad Hill5HochuliMississippimedical sales
BJ78Greg Meyer21ClarkTexas Christianbanker
ROTyler Cerimeli5HochuliArizona Statehigh school officials coordinator
RAMark Bitar3HochuliSeton Hallteacher
ALTRBrad Allen9 Pembroke Statenon-profit CEO
ALTUTab Slaughter3BlakemanArkansas Statechief operating officer
ALTDJPatrick Holt4HochuliNorth Carolina StateIT manager
ALTFJAnthony Flemming3HochuliTexas A&M-Commercesenior auditor
ALTBJTony Josselyn5TorbertEastern Kentuckyprobation officer

NFC Divisional: Giants at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. Fox

Clete Blakeman is the referee, who is in his 15th season and 13th as referee. This is Blakeman’s 13th postseason assignment, including 4 Wild Card Playoffs, 5 Divisional Playoffs, 3 Conference Championships, and Super Bowl 50.

Yrs2022 crewCollegeOccupation
R34Clete Blakeman15 Nebraskaattorney
U124Carl Paganelli23RogersMichigan Stateretired federal probation officer
DJ6Jerod Phillips7MartinNortheastern Stateelementary school teacher
LJ65Walt Coleman IV8NovakSouthern Methodistportfolio manager
FJ33Nate Jones4CheffersRutgersfirefighter/EMT
SJ103Eugene Hall9CheffersNorth Texasfederal agent
BJ46Perry Paganelli25BlakemanHope Collegeretired high school administrator
ROChad Adams5BlakemanCincinnatioperations
RAKen Hall2Blakeman
ALTRCraig Wrolstad20 Washingtonathletic director
ALTUSteve Woods6WrolstadWabashfinancial advisor
ALTLJJeff Seeman21CheffersMinnesotabrokerage sales
ALTSJAllen Baynes15HusseyAuburnrealtor
ALTBJScott Helverson20KempIowasales, printing and promotions

Sunday, Jan. 22

AFC Divisional: Bengals at Bills, 3:00 p.m. CBS PARA+

Carl Cheffers is the referee, who is in his 23rd season and 15th as referee. This is Cheffers’s 17th postseason assignment, including 5 Wild Card Playoffs, 7 Divisional Playoffs, 3 Conference Championships, and Super Bowls LI and LV. Both of his Super Bowl assignments were as a referee.

Yrs2022 crewCollegeOccupation
R51Carl Cheffers23 California-Irvinesales manager
U81Roy Ellison20HillSavannah StateIT engineer
DJ24David Oliver6HillBakerinformation systems manager
LJ32Jeff Bergman30KempRobert Morrispresident and chief executive officer, medical services
FJ117John Jenkins9KempSt. Mary’ssales executive
SJ36Anthony Jeffries5RogersAlabama-Birminghammedical sales
BJ105Dino Paganelli17SmithAquinas Collegeeducator
ROKevin Brown4CheffersPurdueretired air traffic controller
RALarry Hanson3AllenCalifornia-San Diegohealth and safety
ALTRAlex Kemp9 Central Michiganinsurance agent
ALTUTony Michalek21BlakeIndianachief executive officer
ALTLJTom Eaton3RogersCentral Floridafiscal manager
ALTFJTom Hill24BlakeCarson Newmanretired teacher/coach
ALTBJTerrence Miles15NovakArizona Statequality control manager

NFC Divisional: Cowboys at 49ers, 6:40 p.m. Fox

Bill Vinovich is the referee, who is in his 17th season and 14th as referee. This is his 17th postseason assignment, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs, 6 Divisional Playoffs, 6 Conference Championships, and Super Bowls XLIX and LIV. Both of his Super Bowl assignments were as a referee.

Yrs2022 crewCollegeOccupation
R52Bill Vinovich17 San Diegocertified public accountant
U92Bryan Neale9SmithIndianasales consultant
DJ28Mark Hittner26SmithPittsburg Stateinvestment broker
LJ59Rusty Baynes13BogerAuburn-Montgomerygeneral manager, safety services
FJ15Rick Patterson27AllenWoffordbanker
SJ58Don Willard5BlakeIllinois Statephysical therapist
BJ88Brad Freeman9HusseyMississippi Statesports park director
ROMark Butterworth6VinovichWalshnon-profit COO
RARAGerald Frye3TorbertGannonveterinarian
ALTRShawn Smith8 Ferris Statefinance
ALTUFred Bryan14MartinNorthern Iowasuperintendent, juvenile correctional facility
ALTLJMark Perlman22VinovichSalemteacher
ALTFJJabir Walker8HusseyMurray Statemiddle school teacher
ALTBJGreg Yette13AllenHowarddefense contractor
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Cameron Filipe
Cam Filipe is a graduate student at Boston University and has been involved in football officiating for ten years. Cam is in his second season as a high school football official. This is his seventh season covering NFL officiating for Football Zebras.

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27 thoughts on “Hochuli, Blakeman, Cheffers, and Vinovich are Divisional Playoff referees

  1. Whoever is in charge why is Blakeman in this his ratings this year should be the worst in NFL hes the worst referee thw NFL has

  2. @C.J. Who cares? If these are the best officials, they should get the assignment. It should be a meritocracy based on on field performance, nothing else

  3. I know I am late with this but my WC picks were Allen Blakeman Cheffers Wrolstad Rogers and Novak Got 2 0f 6 33% Divisional picks were Vinovich Smith Kemp Hussey go 25% Finals picks were Torbert Hochuli, and Super bowl was Vinovich

  4. Vinovich had a Suoerbowl in 2020 and 2015
    Cheffers had a Superbowl in 2021 for 2020 season and 2017 for 2016 Season

  5. Bill Vinovich should never ever officiant any 49ers game especially in the post season or SB. He is anti 49ers

  6. Bill Vinovich and his crew will favor the Cowboys and that’s how the Cowboys going to win. After the game, media and Cowboys fans alike will praise Dak and the Cowboys but in reality it’s Jerry Jones money paying Vinovich, NFL and Roger Goodell

  7. Superbowl Referee Prediction is
    R carl Cheffers
    U Roy Ellison
    DJ Jerod Phillips
    LJ Jeff Bergman or Rusty Baynes
    FJ Terry Brown or Nate Jones
    SJ Eugene Hall
    BJ Perry Paganelli or Brad Freeman
    Or
    R Shawn Hochuli
    U Roy Ellison or Carl Paganelli
    DJ Jerod Phillips
    LJ Jeff Bergman
    FJ Terry Brown
    SJ Eugene Hall
    BJ Perry Paganelli

  8. Also interesting to note who did not get any field of alternate assessment this year yet: Torbert, Blake, Boger, Hussey…

  9. Torbert did; he was the alternate for Cowboys/Buccaneers WC game. Blake is in his first year, so it makes sense

  10. Tobert and Hussy for the Conference Championship? We shall see. Like someone else said if Boger gets one that then there are serious problems with the officiating department. Boger is the Angel Hernandez of the NFL.

  11. Land Clark is also missing. He never looks like he is enjoying the job. I think he does a solid job.

  12. Really…someone concerned about diversity and not the quality. Officiating must not go woke. Only the best should advance regardless.

  13. Tolbert was an alternate in the wild card round I hope either cheffers or hochuli get the super bowl

  14. Hey Anonymous,
    Your stupid prediction was DEAD WRONG. You might not want to comment on NFL games ever again because you are at the bottom left of the BELL CURVE!!!!!!

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