Football Zebras

No NFL preseason games will hurt officials

by Mark Schultz - August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 03313

The NFL has canceled the preseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While many wonder how the players will get ready for the regular season, there has to be some concern as to how the NFL's officials will react to no preseason games. The last time NFL officials didn't have a preseason was

Socially distant officiating: Just how is this going to work?

by Mark Schultz - July 16, 2020July 25, 2020 14626

Embed from Getty Images As of this writing, the NFL plans on having a full regular season schedule even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The league has canceled the first and fourth preseason weeks, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game (and it would not surprise me if

What it takes to be an NFL white hat

Crews

by Cameron Filipe - April 19, 2020April 19, 2020 47253

Head official. Crew chief. White hat. However you refer to the title of the position, the title of an NFL referee comes with great responsibility. He is both the voice and face of the crew. This week, the NFL announced that Land Clark will be the newest referee, receiving his

Candidates for white hat in 2019

Crews
News

by Mark Schultz - January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 914813

The coveted white hat worn by the referee There are two referee openings for the 2019 season after Walt Coleman and Pete Morelli retired. So far, they are the only two referees we know who have retired. There are very few chances for the NFL to test officials for future referee openings.

Mentoring rookie officials is a rewarding task for veterans

Crews

by Cameron Filipe - November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 07575

Embed from Getty Images When the 17 referees receive their crew assignments when their offseason officially ends May 15, some may take notice that one of their new crew members is a first-year official. Every veteran official knows the feeling, because at one point, that was them: having spent decades working

The science of building good NFL crews

by Mark Schultz - May 2, 2017May 2, 2017 08096

Embed from Getty Images Â As NFL officials prepare for their mini-clinic in May, the NFL officiating office is building 17 officiating crews. Exiting senior vice president for officiating Dean Blandino will oversee the rest of the offseason (which ends May 15 for officials), so he has a say in the crew

NFL officials have thin regular-season bench

Crews
News

by Mark Schultz - September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 25549

Swing officials, double-booking and bye weekends fill any gapsThe first weekend of NFL games featured a serious injury to one of the officials, when line judge Gary Arthur was hit from behind and suffered a broken collar bone, nine broken ribs, and a partially collapsed lung. It was one of

Vacancies could create crunch in the clutch

by Mark Schultz - November 14, 2014November 15, 2014 24958

Possible staffing shortage could cause Week 17 shuffle The Week 9 Sunday Night Football game in Green Bay featured a very rare sight. Umpire Tony Michalek was pressed into duty as a line judge. Michalek, who worked as a line judge for a few seasons in the Big Ten Conference before

Officiating crews for the 2013 season

by Ben Austro - May 27, 2013January 26, 2014 106116

The officiating crew rosters for the 2013 NFL season have been distributed. Each crew member is listed with his years of experience, including the upcoming season, and his 2012Â crew if he switched crews. Uniform numbers are the 2012 numbers, and a few may be subject to change. 7271