Don Willard

5 officiating notes from the divisional playoffs

by Mark Schultz - January 24, 2022January 24, 2022 2

What a weekend of NFL football! I've watched the NFL since 1978, and this is the best playoff weekend I can remember, featuring some of the most exciting games in NFL history. Here are five officiating observations from the weekend. 1. No picky fouls https://streamable.com/t8acq5 I cannot recall a penalty flag this weekend where

There are 10 first-time playoff officials on the field this weekend

by Mark Schultz - January 8, 2021January 11, 2021 3

10 NFL officials are calling their first ever playoff game on the field this weekend. Three of those officials have a playoff game in their first year eligible for the postseason. The following officials are working on the field for the first time. In parentheses are prior alternate or Pro Bowl

How the NFL grooms an official for the referee position

News

by Mark Schultz - August 29, 2019June 5, 2020 0

In the past two seasons, we have seen seven NFL officials promoted to referee due to multiple white hat retirements. While we speculate on who will be the next referee promoted, the NFL actually has a Referee Training Program in place to identify, train, and mentor potential referees well before

3 officials to audition for referee

News

by Mark Schultz - August 8, 2019 1

Three NFL officials will audition this preseason for future referee openings. Deep judges Jonah Monroe, Land Clark, and Don Willard will work all or part of a game at the referee position with a regular referee and other NFL observers watching their performance.Â The NFL used to send potential referees to

Candidates for white hat in 2019

Crews
News

by Mark Schultz - January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 9

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.

NFL has several options for Steratore’s replacement

by Mark Schultz - June 25, 2018January 29, 2019 1

NFL officiating was center stage last week as two of its top referees, Terry McAulay and Gene Steratore, abruptly announced their retirement from the field in order to become rules analysts on network TV. At the end of the 2017 season, Jeff Triplette and Ed Hochuli retired. This is the first

NFL and CFL continue officiating partnership

2018
News

by Mark Schultz - May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 0

http://gty.im/641513974 The Canadian Football League and the NFL will continue to exchange officials in the early part of the CFL season and the NFL preseason. This is the third year of the NFL-CFL officiating exchange program. NFL officials will go north of the border in the summer and call games in the first

5 officiating observations from 2017

by Mark Schultz - January 31, 2018January 31, 2018 6

With just one more game left this season, here are five officiating observations I noticed in the last six months of football. Too many ejections This year, NFL officials gave the hook to 20 playersÂ for fighting, a flagrant personal foul or for contact against an official. This is not because officials are

NCAA referee with the announcement of the year

by Mark Schultz - September 9, 2017September 10, 2017 0

Big 10 referee and Officiating Development Program official Don Willard made a mistake Saturday.Â He faced the wrong way when announcing a foul. It can happen. It has happened to the best, many times. But, the way he handled himself with a live microphone places him into nomination for referee announcement of

Senior Bowl helps evaluate officiating talent, too

College Football

by Ben Austro - January 28, 2017January 29, 2017 4

The Senior Bowl provides an opportunity for scouts to evaluate potential talent for the upcoming draft in a game played largely under NFL rules. The NFL officiating department also uses this as an opportunity to evaluate potential new officials as well. Since the demise of NFL Europe, the league has lost