Want to officiate in the NFL?
 

If the NFL went full time I would seriously consider applying (now or later), but as it stands right now, I don't think I have the time to work in the league on a part time basis.

I don't know how they could be an more full-time. They are already putting in 25-30 hours during the week in addition to traveling to and working the game on a weekend. This isn't like baseball or basketball or hockey where they have games throughout the week every week.

And I do not know how it would interfere with someone that had a full time job either, unless you were on call during most weekends. There travel only really takes place on the weekends primarily and unless you are working a Monday Night game, you would be at work all during the work week. Most of the officials that work in the NFL have a full-time job or business now.

Peace

Its not just MNF. There is a Sunday night game every week, and this year, a Thursday night game (or Wed in one) all but the last week. Figure on 3-4 assignments on these "off" times as well as mid-week and offseason activities, and you have a busy schedule. Remember, this goes on for 4 solid months, and doesn't include a playoff game for roughly half the officials.

Even a good D1 college crew works about a dozen games, most on Saturday. They'll have a camp, a 2 or 3 day meeting, a scrimmage, and 8-12 games and maybe a bowl game. Mid week activities can be handled in one evening, mostly, though some conferences may have more requirements. You can leave Friday after lunch, be home Sunday a little after noon only on weeks when you fly a long way. Just as an example, IF I worked in the Big 12, I'd drive to games in Austin, Waco, Norman, Stillwater, College Station, Dallas, Fort Worth, maybe Houston, maybe San Antonio, and fly everywhere else. All but a few flights would be short (hour to an hour and a half). For a 2:00 game, I'd be home by Sat. midnight everywhere except those games where we had long flights.

In the NFL, on the other hand, I MAY drive to one of those cities, fly the rest, and the flights would be 2-4 hours, except maybe New Orleans. Leaving early Sat. morning and returning very late Sun. night or early Monday would be the norm.

Well I did forget about the Thursday Night games every week. I guess that could be a problem for some. I just know usually they have to be there a day before or early on the day of the game on Thursdays. That might change considering this will be an every week issue now for the staff. Something also tells me that many are not going to have to work those games but only so often. But who knows, I am sure I will find out more about that this summer.

As it relates to the D1 thing, I guess that would depend on the conference. Not all conferences play on weekdays. I know the Big Ten does not do that at this time, so not an issue here, but would be in other parts of the country.

Peace

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.

Funny you say that. I worked with a guy from Texas that flew to Illinois in for an NAIA game on a Saturday. That day we happened to work the eventual National Champion that night early in September. I guess it really depends on what you want to consider too much time and travel. Not saying I would do that at all, but it appears someone is willing to put in the travel and time.

Peace

When I was in my 20s and even early 30s, I would have flown anywhere. Even though I'm fairly lucky to be centrally located and near an airport, the pay for D2 and lower games in both football and basketball really isn't worth the trouble. I won't be D1 in hoops and I might be D1 in football (luckily, years of lower college games is not a requirement like in hoops), but if not, that's fine. But, as stated, if the NFL went full time, I would certainly consider applying.

How about you? You once said you focused your career so you could officiate. Major college hoops would be tough (lower level no problem though fewer games), but you could still work baseball as a full time NFL guy. Would you make the jump?

Well my business was not doing so well so I went back to school to get an advanced degree before I did not have time to do it later in life. I am still in the process of doing that and officiating is really not that important at this point as it once was. I have achieved the highest levels in HS in both football (twice) and baseball so at this point any college I do is gravy. Now I was never in a position or needed to be in a position to fly anywhere as where I am located most places are within driving distance. I have worked college football the last few years and if I ever get a shot at the higher levels I do not have to move or go anywhere. I work mostly college basketball compared to my other sports and that opportunity is also here as well to work that level. I am probably too old to ever be realistically considered at the NFL level, but I would probably be able to do so if the opportunity opened up (just dreaming here of course). I still might have a very outside chance at D1, but unlikely based on all the dynamics that are going on in this area.

I do not want you to think I was being critical of you, because I was not. Just trying to understand why you felt you could never work at the NFL level if picked. I also do not have kids and I am not married so the choices I have to make only affect me. I could chase a dream for a little while where others might have to make a family decision. But I am like many who have done this for awhile and what I once wanted to do is not as important anymore. I just want to have fun more than chasing a dream that is not likely to happen based on other life issues.

Peace

Too old?? Isn't Dick Jorgensen still out there?

I am not too old to officiate, but maybe too old to get in at a good age.

Peace

I don't think the travel requirements will be much of a problem with employers, most employers I know would be real proud to have one of their own employees make it to the NFL. Local pee wee football ref taking off from work might be frowned upon, but an NFL ref, I think that has more sway with the boss...

I don't know anyone that works 25-30 hours a week for 4-5 months out of the year that's considered full time.

who do we contact if we are interested?

Well, it's NOT Ed Hochuli........:rolleyes:

You don't contact the NFL. While an application COULD put you in the "maybe we should look at" pipeline, you'd need some REALLY good references. They have a scouting organization and a short list. An unsolicited resume isn't going to change that.

Speaking as an outsider, I love that NFL guys aren't full-time EMPLOYEES.

It allows for a level of accountability that doesn't exist in any other sport. I'd love to see their per game pay increased across the board, but I'd hate to see a system that works broken. Having spoken to my share of NFL guys, they all share an important trait... the belief that the best guys should be on the field (and they're that guy).

The NFL should stay a meritocracy. Leave that tenured, employee crap to MLB.

That 25-30 hours is before they travel to the game. If you add in that time it goes well over 40. If you make them go "full-time", what else are they going to do during the week they aren't already doing? Since you made them quit their real job you are going to have to give them a significant pay increase to supplement what they are giving up. Either that or you are only going to be able to consider guys that don't have decent paying jobs in the first place.

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

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."

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.

Looks like they've been locked out.

NFL Referees Are Officially Locked Out

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.

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.

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?

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.

Why would that be? If the league is happy with your work, why would you not have a chance of staying on after a resolution?

Sort of smacks of union thuggery, something we can do without.

I'm just making a statement about how things are ... you can have whatever opinion about it and I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong ... just stating what seems to be the facts.

However, using the word scab instead of replacement does color your statement a bit. Just an observation.

True ... I actually debated whether to use that word or not!

And that is what you will be called. It is already happening to those that have accepted the opportunity. Also there are guys that are working college can just about kiss their careers there goodbye too. People remember these things and some college supervisors either are former NFL guys or have children working in the league. Good luck with that no matter what you want them to be called, because the reality is people remember what you did, even if you were not actually accepted on the replacement staff.

Peace

Which is why they are looking for recently retired college officials. They are done and if they accept the short NFL career, it will be done very quickly also. They are expendable . As long as they keep that in mind, I say why not?

I've read all the commentary about looking your compadres in the eye and "the brotherhood". If your career is over and you can get one, brief probably, chance to work the best, why not take it? Why would your college pals really care? You'll be gone in a few weeks so what if Hochuli calls you a scab. You want be working with him ever anyway. Your former HS associates are so far removed from the issue they don't matter.

I do not think this is about college pals, it is about supervisors. At the end of the day I think fellow officials can and will understand if they are not NFL officials. It is the supervisors that have personal connections to people in the NFL or had a career. I know that the assigning body in my area for college is run by a former NFL official. I know it is not going to be looked at in the best light by him if guys go to the NFL. At the end of the day this is a personal choice. I know it would not be worth it to me at this stage to even consider this as a option (Not that I am being considered in any way shape or form, just a hypothetical).

Peace

I don't know if the usage would be correct. If you look the word up in the dictionary, virtually all definitions refer to strike-breakers. This isn't a strike but a lockout.

I would not want anything to do with an individual who seeks retribution on someone else simply because that someone makes the decision to fill a spot that is not being filled. If the NFL officials choose not to accept the terms of what the NFL is offering, that's fine. That's their decision, but to retaliate against someone else making a different decision is not only unprofessional but in bad taste. What if I, as a union member, am adamant that we only accept X and the union votes to accept x-y? Am I justified in ostracizing another union member who voted to accept the agreement? If I can ostracize someone who filled in during a lockout, why can't I do the same to someone who voted to accept an agreement I didn't like and went to work under that agreement? Giving a pass to one and not the other has no logical basis.

The officials' union either needs to get the players on their side -- saying there won't be any games until the officials' demands are met -- or they need to sign the NFL's offer and go back to work. Or they need to quit.

You ostracize, retaliate, etc. others at the risk of YOUR own integrity. Make such decisions VERY wisely. How can you do your job on the field if you give up (at least some of) your integrity for purely financial reasons?

Personally, I'm more of the mindset that we, as officials, should stick together. When the NBA had a lockout I would have never considered working NBA games (assuming, even that I might have had the opportunity) because I have friends that are NBA officials ... why wouldn't I want to support them?

The NFL officials DO have the support of the players union ... however, I doubt you would see the players refuse to play ... their support only goes so far.

A missed call or an incorrect made call.

I'd give up whatever future I had in officiating for just one game working in the NFL. Of course, my future is just high school, but regardless, you could call me a scab all you wanted. I wouldn't care.

You're probably exactly the type of person they will end up getting as replacement officials. By that I mean someone with your type of experience, who is not realistically pursuing a career as an NFL official. Well, they'll probably get those with college experience -- but I don't think you'll see top big conference Division I officials out there. Most NCAA coordinators of football officials are past or current NFL officials, and there is a lot of loyalty there.

The "we're with you as long as it doesn't hurt us..." isn't what I call support. If the NFL players said, "give the officials what they want or we won't play," the lockout would be over faster than they could issue a press release.

I do not believe the NFL would take on replacement officials and then refuse to allow them a chance to stay or reapply once the lockout is over. That doesn't make any sense. They would be admitting they didn't pursue officials with NFL caliber skills.

And they are laying out the threats, too.

I could see some older D3 officials going for it and figuring that if they can't get their schedules back it would be a great way to go out.

Challenge: Find the name of a single NFL official that worked as a replacement in the last lockout.

You have one hour and Google at your disposal ... GO!!

None, because no one actually worked. I'm sure you recall an event on 9/11/2001.

Now, reportedly, more than 200 individuals were offered a chance as replacement officials. If you can get me a list of those individuals, we can check game logs to find out who, if any, made it to the NFL. Until then, I'm quite certain that you can not say for sure no one made it.