Want to officiate in the NFL?

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

My point in a nutshell was that even with a normal, noon Sunday game, its a full weekend plus 12-15 hours during the week for video, testing, etc. If I tried to get in a full 40-45 hour workweek, I'm not sure I could keep that pace for more than a month or two. Just compared to a D1 schedule, that's a stiff time commitment. And I know a lot of guys that have quit working college ball (mostly DII and lower) due to travel and time commitment vs. the pay.

Why would you need/want a full time job if you were in the NFL? Working part time, they make a very nice living.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Why would you need/want a full time job if you were in the NFL? Working part time, they make a very nice living.

Let's assume I'm making $80-100k in my real job while working D1 ball (assume another $15k for college), I would be taking a huge pay cut to only make $40-$50k as a first year NFL official. I could try to pick up something in the offseason but it would be hard to find something that would make up the difference.

If you are going to keep the NFL pay the same the only guys you are going to get to work full time NFL on a regular basis are probably in the $50k or less range. And that would significantly reduce your candidate pool. If you raise starting NFL pay to say $80k to close the gap you'll increase your candidate pool but what more are you going to have them do during the week as full-time officials? It's not likely to make them better officials but you just paid a lot more for their services.

The nature of football and games only being weekly allows job flexibilty that baseball, basketball, and hockey don't allow. Guys do need flexible jobs

[HLin NC]

Most of the NFL officials are high movers- attorneys, self-employed businessmen, top sales reps. The same drive that makes them successful in their vocation makes them successful at the highest level of their avocation.
They have the ability to do their job AND study rules, take tests, watch video, and travel the country 16+ weeks a year.

I doubt there are many of them that punch a clock or have the type job where the boss says "Nope, I need you this Sunday in the shop."

[johnnyg08]

As is currently stands the NFL officials make well into the six figures for their jobs as officials. I don't think that making them full time will improve the officiating.

Those guys didn't get to where they are b/c they're under achievers. The most televised game in the world and they make very, very few mistakes.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

As is currently stands the NFL officials make well into the six figures for their jobs as officials. I don't think that making them full time will improve the officiating.

Those guys didn't get to where they are b/c they're under achievers. The most televised game in the world and they make very, very few mistakes.

Some eventually make six figures but they don't starting out. I believe the game fee for a rookie is around $2500. Assume they work 16 games that comes to $40k. Not bad for a "part-time" gig.

[Texas Aggie]

Looks like they've been locked out.

NFL Referees Are Officially Locked Out

[Rich]

And college officials (all the way down to D3) are receiving emails threatening their "eligibility" to work college football this season if they work NFL games. The same email calls the officials independent contractors. The irony is quite deep.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

Some eventually make six figures but they don't starting out. I believe the game fee for a rookie is around $2500. Assume they work 16 games that comes to $40k. Not bad for a "part-time" gig.

You might be right, but it goes up quickly after your first year. Make post season and you're bringing home about $13,000 per game, but I don't know if it goes up for the super bowl or not. Just a guess, I think it does.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

As is currently stands the NFL officials make well into the six figures for their jobs as officials. I don't think that making them full time will improve the officiating.

Those guys didn't get to where they are b/c they're under achievers. The most televised game in the world and they make very, very few mistakes.

John Parry was assigned last year's Super Bowl because over 2,403 plays, his crew had twenty-four -1's.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

John Parry was assigned last year's Super Bowl because over 2,403 plays, his crew had twenty-four -1's.

Is it fair to assume that a "-1" is a miss of some sort?

[Brad]

A piece of advice to any of those considering working while the regular staff is locked out: If you have any real hopes of working as a real NFL official one day (vs as a replacement official), don't do it. You'll ruin any chance you might actually have by being a scab.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Is it fair to assume that a "-1" is a miss of some sort?

A missed call or an incorrect made call.