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Overtime rules for the NFL playoffs

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by Ben Austro - January 29, 2023January 29, 2023 0

In the offseason prior to the 2022 season, NFL owners approved a modification to the overtime provisions to essentially give both teams a guaranteed possession in nearly all cases. The regular season rule remains the same, that overtime is only extended if the first possession of the game ends in a

40-year anniversary of the play where Pat Haggerty’s life flashed before his eyes

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by Mark Schultz - January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 0

After a strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins faced off in The Orange Bowl on January 23, 1983, for the right to go to Super Bowl XVII. It was a game where Dolphins linebacker A.J. Duhe became a hero, and referee Pat Haggerty almost

Breaking down the 2022 playoff wild card assignments

by Mark Schultz - January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 1

As we tee up “Super Wild Card Weekend” let’s break down some of the wild card officiating assignments. This weekend sees NFL officials calling their first-ever playoff assignment: • Mike Carr, down judge number 63 (sixth season, 2021 Pro Bowl) • Mike Dolce, down judge number 123 (third season, 2021 alternate) • Tom Eaton,

Officials told to watch for illegal foreign objects used for FG and XP attempts

by Cameron Filipe - January 12, 2023January 25, 2023 1

Embed from Getty Images Football Zebras exclusive Game officials will have a heightened sense of awareness regarding field goal holders attempting to use a small object upon which to place the ball when holding for a field goal, after such a practice was observed in a Week 14 game. In the NFC East

6 NFL officials with 146 years of combined experience are retiring this season

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by Cameron Filipe - January 6, 2023January 7, 2023 0

Embed from Getty Images At the conclusion of the 2022 NFL season, 6 respected veteran officials will be hanging up their whistle. Among these officials includes line judge Jeff Bergman, who is only the 8th official in league history to officiate for 30 or more seasons. Bergman, 68, is the son of

2022 playoff seeding: separating truth from hackery

by Ben Austro - January 6, 2023January 9, 2023 0

The NFL found itself in a difficult position with a suspended game and a set of policies with a small amount of flexibility to be comprehensive. The commissioner is authorized to make certain competitive decisions, but because of dueling provisions the league had to make a few policy decisions on

How does the NFL handle a suspended game?

by Ben Austro - January 3, 2023January 25, 2023 11

An unimaginable, but always really possible, situation has confronted the league for the first time when Bills safety Damar Hamlin experienced a medical emergency and collapsed in the first quarter of the Bills-Bengals game. The game was suspended in the first quarter and not resumed. Obviously all of the concern

Art McNally, the only official in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and father of modern officiating, dies at 97

by Ben Austro - January 2, 2023January 25, 2023 0

Art McNally, the stalwart leader of the National Football League officiating department and preeminent advisor for six decades, has died on Jan. 1 of natural causes at the age of 97. McNally was the first and only official to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame last August.

Officiating crews for the 2022 college football conference championship games

by Ben Austro - December 1, 2022December 3, 2022 0

Football Zebras has obtained most of the crew assignments for the 2022 college football conference championships. Assignments are handled by each conference. Depending on the procedures for each conference, crews are may eligible for bowl games. All times listed are Eastern. This post will be updated as we confirm the rest of

Alberto Riveron is the new ACC officiating boss

by Mark Schultz - November 30, 2022November 30, 2022 0

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has appointed former NFL official and senior vice president of officiating, Alberto Riveron, to be the next ACC supervisor of officials. Riveron replaces the retired Dennis Hennigan. Riveron will oversee the ACC football officiating staff, replay officials, communicators and the ACC's Football Officiating Alliance, which includes