How the NFL grooms an official for the referee position

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

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.  The NFL used to send potential referees to

3 officials audition to be an NFL referee

Football Zebras exclusiveThe NFL will audition three officials at the referee position this week. Three current NFL officials will don the white hat for at least one preseason game where the NFL will scout them as potential future referees.  Last year, the NFL auditioned three potential officials and John Hussey

3 officials audition for referee position

Football Zebras exclusive Updated Aug. 13, 2014 The NFL will audition three officials at the referee position this week in the second preseason week.  Three current NFL officials will don the white hat for at least one preseason game where the NFL will scout them as potential future referees.  Last year, the

NFL may have to change the way it appoints referees

Vital proving grounds for white hat candidates no longer exist Commentary by Mark Schultz The NFL could be having a white hat problem in the next few years.  Several referees have put in 20 or more years of service, meaning that their retirement window is starting to open.  There are at least

Speculation whirls around new referee hires

NFL will hire from current roster Scott Green and Ron Winter have retired, opening up two slots at the referee position.  The NFL has not hired a referee straight out of college and into the NFL since the 1970 merger, so the two new white hats will come from the current

New white hats looking to earn an ‘R’

NFL trying out potential replacements for retiring head referees The NFL is preparing for the inevitable retirement of officiating crew chiefs by conducting trial runs for some promotions in the second preseason weekend. An officiating source said that at least one head referee will retire at the end of the season.