Football Zebras has confirmed that for the fourth time in five years, the NFL will not experiment with an eighth on-field official position in the preseason. The NFL hasn't experimented with an eight-person crew since 2019. The NFL currently has seven on-field officials -- referee, umpire, down judge, line judge, field
Tag: center judge
Umpire position incubator for future NFL crew chiefs?
[Update: Brad Allen was moved to referee without having worked at the umpire position to fill a vacancy caused by referee Mike Carey's departure. The post as it originally appeared is below.] We know the NFL officiating roster for 2014. Â The names have been announced, but one position assignment caught my
NFL borrows 8th official from Big 12
[Editor's note: In 2014, the participating NCAA conferences standardized the name from alternate official to center judge. This post refers to the terminology at the time it was written.] The NFL is looking to take a page from the playbook of one of its referees. Vice president of officiating Dean Blandino is