Tag: REFEREES

NFL hires 24 full-time officials

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The NFL has hired 24 full-time game officials from among the current 122-person roster of officials, the NFL and NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) jointly announced today.

The 24 full-time officials, up from 21 in the inaugural season of the program in 2017, come from all seven on-field officiating positions and represent a collaborative initiative intended to promote the common goal of improving every aspect of NFL officiating.

In an effort to improve consistency, efficiency and accuracy, the full-time game officials will work throughout the calendar year on game preparation and game administration, analyzing current game trends, communicating with the clubs, and assisting to ensure that there is a qualified pipeline of future officials.

“Working with the full-time game officials last season was extremely beneficial,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating ALBERTO RIVERON.  “Their presence greatly improved communication with the clubs.  Our collective goal is to make a positive impact on NFL officiating overall, and this initiative was an important factor for us in that effort.”

“We are supportive of providing our members the opportunity to voluntarily commit additional time for additional compensation to NFL officiating, especially in the offseason,” said NFLRA Executive Director SCOTT GREEN. “This program is the result of extensive discussion and planning, and the NFLRA looks forward to continuing and supporting the program in its second year.”

A look at the 24 full-time officials by position:

No. Name Pos. College NFL Experience

(including 2018)
122 Brad Allen Referee Pembroke State 5
66 Walt Anderson Referee Texas 23
23 Jerome Boger Referee Morehouse 15
135 Pete Morelli Referee St. Mary’s 22
132 John Parry Referee Purdue 19
11 Fred Bryan Umpire Northern Iowa 10
81 Roy Ellison Umpire Savannah State 16
115 Tony Michalek Umpire Indiana 17
124 Carl Paganelli Umpire Michigan State 20
134 Ed Camp Down Judge William Paterson 19
59 Rusty Baynes Line Judge Auburn-Montgomery 9
32 Jeff Bergman Line Judge Robert Morris 27
10 Julian Mapp Line Judge Grambling State 10
9 Mark Perlman Line Judge Salem 18
84 Mark Steinkerchner Line Judge Akron 25
97 Tom Hill Field Judge Carson Newman 20
41 Boris Cheek Side Judge Morgan State 23
88 Brad Freeman Side Judge Mississippi State 5
120 Jonah Monroe Side Judge Arkansas 4
1 Scott Novak Side Judge Phoenix 5
133 Steve Freeman Back Judge Mississippi State 18
78 Greg Meyer Back Judge Texas Christian 17
111 Terrence Miles Back Judge Arizona State 11
12 Greg Steed Back Judge Howard 16

NFL announces game officials for the 2018 season

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The NFL roster of game officials for the 2018 season will include seven first-year NFL officials among the group of 121, the league announced today.

Field judge LAND CLARK (Pac-12), field judge MATT EDWARDS (Big Ten), side judge CHAD HILL (SEC), field judge ANTHONY JEFFRIES (SEC), back judge TONY JOSSELYN (SEC), line judge MARK STEWART (Big 12) and field judge DON WILLARD (Big Ten) will make their NFL officiating debuts this season.

Four officials – SHAWN HOCHULI, ALEX KEMP, CLAY MARTIN, and SHAWN SMITH– have been promoted to referee for the upcoming season.  Each of them were referees at the highest level of college football prior to entering the NFL at different positions and have been part of the NFL’s Referee Training Program from their first season in the league.

Both Shawn Hochuli (ED HOCHULI) and Alex Kemp (STAN KEMP) are the sons of former NFL referees.

Two sets of fathers and sons are included among the roster of officials — WALT COLEMAN, the dean of NFL officials entering his 30th season, and his son, WALT IV; and STEVE FREEMAN and his son, BRAD — and three sets of brothers – ALLEN and RUSTY BAYNES; JEFF and JERRY BERGMAN; and CARL, DINO & PERRY PAGANELLI.

Steve Freeman and PHIL MC KINNELY are the only current game officials to have also enjoyed NFL playing careers. Freeman played for 13 seasons, including 12 as a defensive back with the Buffalo Bills from 1975–86. McKinnely played for seven seasons on the offensive line from 1976–82, including five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 1976–80.

The following is the complete 2018 NFL roster of officials, including crew assignments, which may change during the season due to injury, schedule conflicts, etc.:

 

 

No.

  

Name

  

Pos.

  

College

  

Crew

 NFL Experience

(including 2018)
122 Brad Allen R Pembroke State Allen 5
20 Barry Anderson U North Carolina State Cheffers 12
66 Walt Anderson R Texas Anderson 23
108 Gary Arthur LJ Wright State Cheffers 22
72 Michael Banks SJ Illinois State Parry 17
56 Allen Baynes SJ Auburn Hussey 11
59 Rusty Baynes LJ Auburn-Montgomery Boger 9
32 Jeff Bergman LJ Robert Morris Kemp 27
91 Jerry Bergman DJ Robert Morris Coleman 17
34 Clete Blakeman R Nebraska Blakeman 11
23 Jerome Boger R Morehouse Boger 15
40 Brian Bolinger LJ Indiana State Allen 2
18 Byron Boston LJ Austin Anderson 24
74 Derick Bowers LJ East Central Hussey 16
98 Greg Bradley LJ Tennessee Hochuli 10
43 Terry Brown FJ Tennessee Anderson 13
11 Fred Bryan U Northern Iowa Martin 10
86 Jimmy Buchanan FJ South Carolina State Torbert 10
134 Ed Camp DJ William Paterson Hochuli 19
63 Mike Carr DJ Wisconsin Boger 2
60 Gary Cavaletto SJ Hancock Vinovich 16
41 Boris Cheek SJ Morgan State Morelli 23
51 Carl Cheffers R California-Irvine Cheffers 19
130 Land Clark FJ Sevier Valley Tech Cheffers 1
16 Kevin Codey DJ Western New England Hussey 4
95 James Coleman SJ Arkansas Smith 14
65 Walt Coleman R Arkansas Coleman 30
87 Walt Coleman IV LJ Southern Methodist Blakeman 4
99 Tony Corrente R Cal State-Fullerton Corrente 24
94 Hugo Cruz DJ Texas-Pan American Cheffers 4
25 Ryan Dickson SJ Utah Corrente 2
27 Lee Dyer BJ Tennessee-Chattanooga Anderson 16
76 Alan Eck U Bloomsburg Corrente 3
96 Matt Edwards FJ Western Michigan Parry 1
3 Scott Edwards SJ Alabama Torbert 20
81 Roy Ellison U Savannah State Hochuli 16
61 Keith Ferguson BJ San Jose State Morelli 19
64 Dan Ferrell U Cal State-Fullerton Torbert 16
71 Ruben Fowler U Huston-Tillotson Allen 13
88 Brad Freeman SJ Mississippi State Martin 5
133 Steve Freeman BJ Mississippi State Kemp 18
80 Greg Gautreaux FJ S.W. Louisiana Coleman 17
128 Ramon George U Lenoir-Rhyne Blakeman 3
103 Eugene Hall SJ North Texas Cheffers 5
49 Rich Hall U Arizona Kemp 15
93 Scott Helverson BJ Iowa Wrolstad 16
29 Adrian Hill SJ Buffalo Wrolstad 9
125 Chad Hill SJ Mississippi Hochuli 1
97 Tom Hill FJ Carson Newman

NFL to hire 24 full-time referees

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The NFL will hire up to 24 full-time game officials from among the current 124-person roster of officials, the NFL and NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) jointly announced today.

The NFL and NFLRA agreed to experiment with full-time officials as part of the last Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The decision to hire up to 24 such officials for 2017 is a collaborative initiative intended to promote the common goal of enhancing all aspects of NFL officiating –  scouting, training and mentoring, better understanding of current game trends, game preparation, and increased input on rules relating to player safety and game administration.

“We believe this is a great development for NFL officiating overall and ultimately the quality of our game,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations TROY VINCENT.  “We share a common goal, which is to make our game as great as it can possibly be, and look forward to working together on this new effort.”

“NFL officials are always looking to improve, and we believe that additional time, particularly in the offseason, will be positive,” said NFLRA Executive Director SCOTT GREEN.  “We’re looking forward to working together with the league on this effort.”

The program will permit current officials who wish to transition to a full-time role the opportunity to apply. The full-time officials that are hired – between 21 and 24 – will play an important role in enhancing communication and the flow of information to and from on-field officials, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating ALBERTO RIVERON and the league’s officiating supervisors.

The implementation throughout the 2017 season will provide the NFL Officiating Department, in consultation with the NFLRA, the opportunity to identify the most effective ways to utilize the off-field time for full-time game officials throughout the calendar year.

Full-time officials will be hired at each of the seven officiating positions and may serve on each of the 17 officiating crews. They will work collaboratively with their assigned crews, the league officiating staff and the NFL’s football-related committees during the offseason.

NFL announces referees for 2017; eight new refs in 2017

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The NFL roster of game officials for the 2017 season will include eight first-year NFL officials among the group of 124, the league announced Thursday.

Line judge BRIAN BOLINGER (Big Ten), line judge MIKE CARR (Big Ten), side judgeRYAN DICKSON (Pac-12), down judge DAVID OLIVER (SEC), field judge MEARL ROBINSON (Pac-12), field judge BRAD ROGERS (SEC), line judge DANNY SHORT(ACC), and umpire STEVE WOODS (Big Ten) will make their NFL officiating debuts this season.

An instant replay official will work as part of each of the 17 officiating crews, including TERRI VALENTI, who becomes the first female replay official in NFL history. Valenti has worked in instant replay for the NFL for the past five seasons, serving as a replay communicator from 2012-15 and a replay assistant in 2016 before being promoted to her current position. Prior to turning her focus to replay, Valenti was an on-field official at the high school, collegiate and professional level (Arena Football League, United Football League), as well as in various international football leagues.

Five officials will not be assigned to crews and will work with different crews throughout the season. In addition to these five officials, there will be more rotation of officials among the crews to ensure the most consistent officiating across the league.

Twelve officials will work at new positions this season in an effort to capitalize on the particular strengths of each official as well as balance the needs of the overall officiating staff.

In addition, the position formerly known as “head linesman” will be called “down judge” beginning this season to more accurately depict the primary responsibility of the role —ensuring the correct down and distance — as well as to eliminate the gender-based classification of the position.

Three sets of fathers and sons are included among the roster of officials — Coleman and his son, WALT IV; ED HOCHULI and his son, SHAWN; and STEVE FREEMAN and his son, BRAD — and four sets of brothers – ALLEN and RUSTY BAYNES; JEFF andJERRY BERGMAN; CARL, DINO & PERRY PAGANELLI; and GENE and TONY STERATORE.

The following is the complete 2017 NFL roster of officials, including crew assignments, which may change during the season due to injury, schedule conflicts, etc.:

No. Name Pos. College Crew NFL Experience

(including 2017)
122 Brad Allen R Pembroke State Allen 4
20 Barry Anderson U North Carolina State Wrolstad 11
66 Walt Anderson R Texas Anderson 22
108 Gary Arthur LJ Wright State Steratore 21
72 Michael Banks FJ Illinois State McAulay 16
56 Allen Baynes SJ Auburn Hussey 10
59 Rusty Baynes LJ Auburn-Montgomery Hochuli 8
32 Jeff Bergman DJ Robert Morris Triplette 26
91 Jerry Bergman DJ Robert Morris McAulay 16
34 Clete Blakeman R Nebraska Blakeman 10
23 Jerome Boger R Morehouse Boger 14
40 Brian Bolinger LJ Indiana State Allen 1
18 Byron Boston LJ Austin Anderson 23
74 Derick Bowers DJ East Central Coleman 15
98 Greg Bradley DJ Tennessee Hochuli 9
43 Terry Brown SJ* Tennessee Triplette 12
11 Fred Bryan U Northern Iowa Allen 9
86 Jimmy Buchanan FJ South Carolina State Hussey 9
134 Ed Camp DJ William Paterson Boger 18
63 Mike Carr LJ Wisconsin Boger 1
60 Gary Cavaletto SJ Hancock Vinovich 15
41 Boris Cheek SJ Morgan State Morelli 22
51 Carl Cheffers R California-Irvine Cheffers 18
16 Kevin Codey LJ Western New England Coleman 3
95 James Coleman SJ Arkansas Coleman 13
65 Walt Coleman R Arkansas Coleman 29
87 Walt Coleman IV SJ Southern Methodist Boger 3
99 Tony Corrente R Cal State-Fullerton Corrente 23
94 Hugo Cruz DJ Texas-Pan American Blakeman 3
25 Ryan Dickson SJ Utah Corrente 1
27 Lee Dyer BJ Tennessee-Chattanooga Wrolstad 15
76 Alan Eck U* Bloomsburg Corrente 2
3 Scott Edwards SJ* Alabama Torbert 19
81 Roy Ellison U Savannah State Steratore 15
61 Keith Ferguson BJ San Jose State Hussey 18
64 Dan Ferrell U Cal State-Fullerton   15
71 Ruben Fowler U Huston-Tillotson Triplette 12
88 Brad Freeman SJ* Mississippi State Cheffers 4
133 Steve Freeman BJ Mississippi State Triplette 17
80 Greg Gautreaux FJ* S.W. Louisiana Triplette 16
128 Ramon George U Lenoir-Rhyne Blakeman 2
103 Eugene Hall FJ North Texas Boger 4
49 Rich Hall U Arizona Boger 14
125 Laird Hayes SJ Princeton Anderson 23
93 Scott Helverson BJ Iowa Hochuli 15
29 Adrian Hill SJ* Buffalo Steratore 8
97 Tom Hill FJ Carson Newman Allen 19
28 Mark Hittner DJ Pittsburg State Wrolstad 21
85 Ed Hochuli R Texas-El Paso Hochuli 28
83 Shawn Hochuli BJ Claremont Allen 4
82 Buddy Horton FJ Oregon State Corrente 19
37 Jim Howey DJ/LJ Erskine   19
35 John Hussey R Idaho State Hussey 16
117 John Jenkins FJ St. Mary’s Anderson 4
101 Carl Johnson LJ Nicholls State McAulay 14
55 Alex Kemp SJ Central Michigan Hochuli 4
121 Paul King U Nicholls State Torbert 9
21 Jeff Lamberth SJ Texas A&M Wrolstad 16
73 Joe Larrew FJ* St. Louis Blakeman 16
2 Bart Longson LJ Brigham Young Corrente 3
89 Jon Lucivansky FJ Minnesota Vinovich 9
10 Julian Mapp LJ Grambling State Wrolstad 9
107 Ron Marinucci LJ Glassboro State Hussey 21
19 Clay Martin U Oklahoma Baptist Cheffers 3
39 Rich Martinez BJ Canisius McAulay 4
77 Terry McAulay R Louisiana State McAulay 20
8 Dana McKenzie LJ Toledo Blakeman 10
110 Phil McKinnely DJ UCLA Vinovich 16
48 Jim Mello DJ Northeastern Allen 14
118 Dave Meslow FJ* Augsburg Parry 7
78 Greg Meyer BJ Texas Christian Vinovich 16
115 Tony Michalek U Indiana Hussey 16
111 Terrence Miles BJ Arizona State Coleman 10
120 Jonah Monroe SJ Arkansas McAulay 3
135 Pete Morelli R St. Mary’s Morelli 21
92 Bryan Neale U Indiana Morelli 4
1 Scott Novak FJ* Phoenix Coleman 4
24 David Oliver DJ Baker Steratore 1
124 Carl Paganelli U Michigan State Anderson 19
105 Dino Paganelli BJ Aquinas Steratore 12
46 Perry Paganelli BJ Hope Parry 20
132 John Parry R Purdue Parry 18
17 Steve Patrick BJ Jacksonville State Blakeman 4
15 Rick Patterson FJ/SJ Wofford   22
79 Kent Payne LJ* Nebraska Wesleyan Cheffers 14
131 Mark Pellis U Allegheny Parry 4
9 Mark Perlman LJ Salem Vinovich 17
6 Jerod Phillips DJ Northeastern State Anderson 2
47 Tim Podraza LJ Nebraska Morelli 10
109 Dyrol Prioleau SJ Johnson C. Smith Blakeman 11
30 Todd Prukop BJ Cal State-Fullerton Corrente 9
5 Jim Quirk BJ Middlebury Cheffers 8
44 Jeff Rice U Northwestern Coleman 23
31 Mearl Robinson FJ Air Force Cheffers 1
126 Brad Rogers FJ Lubbock Christian Morelli 1
50 Aaron Santi FJ Southern Oregon Torbert 3
129 Bill Schuster U Alfred   18
45 Jeff Seeman LJ Minnesota Parry 16
104 Dale Shaw FJ Allegheny Hochuli 5
113 Danny Short LJ North Carolina-Charlotte Triplette 1
14 Shawn Smith U Ferris State Hochuli 3
90 Mike Spanier DJ St. Cloud State Parry 19
12 Greg Steed BJ Howard Morelli 15
84 Mark Steinkerchner LJ Akron Torbert 24
22 Steve Stelljes DJ Friends Morelli 16
68 Tom Stephan DJ/LJ Pittsburg State   19
114 Gene Steratore R Kent State Steratore 15
112 Tony Steratore BJ California, Pa. Boger 18
102 Bruce Stritesky U Embry Riddle Vinovich 12
100 Tom Symonette DJ* Florida Cheffers 14
53 Sarah Thomas DJ* Mobile Torbert 3
62 Ron Torbert R Michigan State Torbert 8
42 Jeff Triplette R Wake Forest Triplette 22
13 Patrick Turner DJ Cal State-Long Beach Corrente 4
52 Bill Vinovich R San Diego Vinovich 13
123 Ed Walker DJ San Jose State Hussey 4
26 Jabir Walker SJ Murray State Allen 3
7 Keith Washington SJ Virginia Military Institute Parry 10
116 Mike Weatherford FJ Oklahoma State Steratore 16
119 Greg Wilson BJ USC Anderson 10
54 Steve Woods U Wabash McAulay 1
4 Craig Wrolstad R Washington Wrolstad 15
38 Greg Yette BJ Howard Torbert 8
33 Steve Zimmer FJ Hofstra Wrolstad 21

*Denotes new position for 2017