NFL officials have come under scrutiny in recent years for controversial calls which have impacted the outcome of games.
The NFL notably doesn’t use full-time officials and most have other occupations. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” Friday in Detroit after the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft Thursday, explained why the league doesn’t employ full-time officials.
Goodell said while it’s something they’ve looked at, the human element means officials are bound to make mistakes from time to time. Goodell said the NFL is counteracting that by introducing more technology in helping officials make decisions.
“We did a little of that right before COVID and stopped it during COVID just because of the circumstances and we didn’t see a difference,” Goodell said. “Doesn’t mean that we did it right. So, we still look at it. But I’m also sitting back and I’m watching a lot of playoff basketball and hockey. I’m hearing a lot about officials and all of those guys are full-time. This is a human game. It’s a fast game. They’re people like you and I. They make mistakes. For us, the way we correct it is to try to add technology. So, replay assist is something we’re bringing even further in this year.
“… I think we’re getting gradually more comfortable with that — to allow the officials more information when they make their decisions.”
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But when it comes to the issue of having full-time officials, one notable NFL player would disagree with Goodell’s stance. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, appearing on McAfee’s show this past October, said it would be beneficial to the league to have full-time officials with increased pay.
“I do think that it would probably help to have all of them full-time,” Rodgers said, via CBS Sports. “I think increase in pay probably as well, it’s a really important part of our game, we’re a billion-dollar industry. I think those men and women deserve to be paid appropriately where they can make this their full-time gig. They got a tough job to do, to make calls in real time, and they’re as scrutinized as the quarterbacks and kickers are, as they have one job to do and that’s to interpret the rulebook in zero time possible.
“I think it’s good that we have the extra official in the box to help them out with several calls, avoid some of these unnecessary challenges. But I think full time, yes. More pay, definitely yes.”
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