2025 officiating year in review

It was a great season of pro and college football. Here are some things that stuck out to me this season.

1. Ejections down again this season

Just a few years ago, there would be around 20 NFL ejections in a season. In 2024 there were 13 NFL ejections. This season there were 11 ejections. But the first ejection happened after the opening kickoff of the season. Jalen Carter spit at/on Dak Prescott and umpire Bryan Neale showed him the door.

I’m glad that the players and coaches are starting to play disciplined and realize that a silly personal foul or ejection hurts their team and doesn’t do the game any good.

2. Digital measurements smooth debut

The NFL started digital measurements this season, instead of bringing in the chain gang.

The chain gang still has a job. They will stay on the sideline for visual reference and will be used in a measurement should there be a technical failure.

This was a huge change in measurement mechanics but these measurements went smooth as silk.

3. New referee debut

Alex Moore, after three seasons as an umpire, became a referee this season. Rookie referees are not eligible to call a playoff game so we don’t know how he did. But he certainly passed the eye test.

I predict that he will become a long-term referee with multiple playoff assignments.

4. Accountability

When Ramon George became the vice president of officiating in 2024, he implemented a new way to assign playoffs. Gone are “reputation” or “gift” playoff assignments. In fact, two retiring officials were shut out this season, not even a gift alternate assignment.

George is using a data-driven process to determine an official’s accuracy and judgement. That is the only criteria. Gone is the Super Bowl requirement of five years on the field before getting the big game. Last year, George assigned two third-year officials to Super Bowl XLIX and they did a great job. This year, third-year field judge Jason Ledet got the Super Bowl.

Also, this year, several officials received two on-field assignments, not just the Super Bowl officials. And, 17 officials received no assignments – not even an alternate assignment. In Al Riveron’s three years as officiating boss, 23, 24, and 25 officials got shut out. When Walt Anderson was the boss, less than 10 officials per season were shut out.

Fans want accountability. George is grading officials with accountability and cold, hard data guiding him. That made for some surprising officials to be skunked from the playoff this year.

5. Calls of the year

This season featured some great calls and displays of judgement. I couldn’t come up with one call, so here are three calls of the year.

Ever hear of Josh Dasher? That name didn’t ring a bell for me. Until, Indiana played at Penn State earlier this season. The Hoosiers had a game-winning touchdown pass right at the back of the end line. Omar Cooper caught the pass from Fernando Mendoza. Cooper came down right next to Dasher. He had to judge Cooper’s feet and his control of the ball. Dasher didn’t have a panoramic view of the play – it blew up right in front of him. Great plays make for great calls, and hang on star on Josh Dasher.

When the Giants and Raiders squared off in Las Vegas, there was a punt play that went out of bounds. The gunner got blocked out of bounds and some more hi-jinks ensued behind the bench and almost near the stands.

Side judge Dominique Pender saw the trouble brewing and went into action. Instead of standing at the spot dead ball, he sprinted into the fracas. This is a great example of situational awareness by Pender.

Field judge Nate Jones is a former NFL player and he put those player instincts to good use in preventing a big brawl. The Texans were playing the Seahawks, and Texans cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr., intercepted a pass intended for the Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba chased Stingley out of bounds into the Texans bench. Stingley grabbed Smith-Njigba’s face mask and shoved his helmet off.

Jones flagged Stingley for a personal foul on the face mask grab. Smith-Njigba took umbrage, shoved Stingley in the middle of the Texans bench and the scrum was on. As Smith-Njigba was shoved into a sitting position on the Texans bench, with Texans threatening him. Jones then stood over Smith-Njigba protecting him from Texans fists.

Like Pender, this was a demonstration of great hustle and game awareness.

This was another great season of football officiating and it was fun to watch the college and pro official at work!