Officiating crews for the 2023 XFL season

The XFL returns to the field in 2023 with 8 teams and a 10-game regular season schedule. The XFL uses the NFL’s 7-person mechanics and has 42 officials from the Football Bowl Subdivision conferences on six crews.

Dean Blandino is the vice president of officiating and playing rules innovation. Marvel July, a Big 12 center judge, is the officiating supervisor and coordinator. Additional supervisors include Gary Arthur, Jeff Bergman, John O’Neill, Dino Paganelli, and Larry Upson. Bergman and Paganelli worked Super Bowl LVII one week prior to the XFL opener, the final NFL game for Bergman’s career.

Many of the officials have been scouted by the NFL under its Mackie Development Program, but the league had no formal role in the XFL staffing process. The XFL officiating staff includes six women, one on each of the crews.

Officials are listed by their position with their current college conference. Assignments for last season’s bowl games, all-star games, and conference championships are listed. The number of seasons in the Mackie Development Program, and in a spring pro league are indicated, which includes the 2019 AAF, the 2020 XFL (plus this season), and the 2022-23 USFL seasons. There are 6 officials working both spring leagues this year, which each count as 2 seasons in their totals.

Football Zebras has learned that the XFL officiating jerseys do not have numbers or position placards.

In-city staff

The XFL has assigned replay officials and ball spotters (there is no center judge position) to each of the eight cities.