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: middle judge
No eight-person crew experiments this preseason
For the past several preseasons, the NFL has experimented with eight-person crews. Football Zebras has learned that experiment is on hold this year. Eight-person crews started in the NCAA. In college, the eighth official is the center judge, who lines up in the offensive backfield with the referee. NCAA umpires stay in their
