The Evolution of NFL Referees

Start: 0:00
History: 2:22
Placement and Responsibilities: 6:53
Talking to America: 11:35
Building the Crew and Game Assignments: 14:25
The Rules: 16:30
Officials Yearly Kickoff Meeting 21:41
Gameday Schedule and Responsibilities: 24:02
Replay: 29:50
Dealing with Coaches, Players, and Fans: 34:24
Weekly Schedule: 40:55
Offseason Work: 45:50
Becoming an Official: 51:33
The Future: 56:16
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[@bigfootsb284]

This gives you a lot more respect for how hard the game is for the referees and make the correct call for the nfl game

[@ryanfarewell2336]

I know we rag on the officials all the time but I really do appreciate the job they do, it's not easy

[@b_retro8211]

forgive me for giving a like when it was at 69😣

[@philipj.sherman2987]

I appreciate them when they do their job...correctly.

[@EmmaBonn96]

Frankly I love what the UFL does with broadcasting the conversations regarding close calls It gives transparency and you understand what the referees are seeing. I think that makes them seem a lot more fair.

[@fortynights1513]

Good video NFL Throwback! Idea for a video: Do a list of the best and worst teams to lose in the conference championship game round.

[@famousmcfly80]

As someone that’s been a referee, umpire, etc, it’s a very difficult job. It’s all hate and no love from the fans, players and coaches. I can’t imagine the pressure of pro level refs.

[@themachoechidnaugandarandy7583]

Never!!

[@briandow2974]

I would disagree that it is "all hate and no love". There are calmer heads where I officiate. Its not love all the time but definitely not hate all the time.

[@famousmcfly80]

@@briandow2974 I can agree with that.

[@AustinLee-ty9np]

Because every pro sport is now rigged even if it’s not Refs or Umpires just how the game is evolving now

[@caras2004]

People ask me what should I do when I referee my first game. "Have fun and don't suck"

[@Wavylovesfilm]

Man these explained videos are some of the best videos I’ve ever seen

[@christopherjustice6411]

You guys really gotta do a series summarizing each decade of the NFL at some point.

[@Cynsham]

People will never appreciate and give refs the credit they deserve for how difficult and nuanced their duty really is. They have faithfully performed the most thankless job in all of professional sports and are almost only ever mentioned when it is in a negative context like when the call on the field was incorrect, etc.

[@AndrewBairdarbe59]

The NFL has placed a lot of emphasis on trying to get the human element, the personality, of its players out front and center. It's mostly a matter of trying to appeal to a younger generation that really wants individual authenticity and not see these guys as chess pieces. It seems like maybe they ought to do the same with the refs. Let these guys have a marketing department or someone who runs social media profiles on them to show people the human being behind the referee. On the other hand, MLB has a major problem on it's hands with its officials. That's a culture of no accountability and arrogance where the quality of job they do seems not to be their highest priority. I think this video, for me as a fan of both NFL and MLB, shines a huge spotlight on the commitment to excellence that NFL officials have compared with the lack of accountability that the MLB umpires demonstrate.

[@aarondonald1611]

Stop. Refs have had zero accountability

[@traviscummings9178]

We may give referees a lot of shit (some of it justified, some of it not), but we need to keep one thing in mind: at the end of the day, they're only human

[@bonzobonanza]

Exactly bruh. Plus, NFL offense and defense is dramatically evolving, which could make it hard for referees

[@FracturedImage]

This used to be my go to answer BUT now that gambling has been implemented into the NFL being “human” isn’t enough

[@MelonSkywalker]

​@@FracturedImageif you care that much, then dont gamble

[@aarondonald1611]

That should be how people think of everything lol what kind of comment is this?

[@JohnGramer06]

@@aarondonald1611it's because you can't just think of EVERYBODY as "only human." Anyone in any profession is expected to be an EXPERT at what they do, which makes mistakes a BIG deal.

[@tyreepowell8367]

Your KZbin Channel Is Number #1 NFL Throwback

[@theheeter9181]

Always wanted to be a ref, not a player. Hats off to those guys, its a lot harder than many people realize along with the fact that everyone hates you.

[@thenerdyarab7622]

Only job in the world where it’s acceptable to suck at your job and get rewarded.

[@gatordude1987]

Love these comments from those whom have NEVER officiated a game and don’t have the intelligence to know what they DONT know. Keep officiating with a beer in one hand and a remote in the other

[@EvanderKolthoff]

gives you a lot more respect for how hard the game is for the referees and make the correct call for the nfl game

[@aarondonald1611]

Refs used to be sports writers?!?! That's amazing and so bizarre nowadays lol

[@ibn1989]

A lot of them are lawyers nowadays

[@javi__...]

McNally is the most marine looking dude I've ever seen

[@LessGo7921]

In the 2010’s it was being a Pats fan. Now it’s being a Chiefs fan 😤😤

[@ThatOneDude219]

Chiefs O line gets away with murder in the playoffs

[@kokoken1]

I think this video and the big piece Peter King did in 2014 following Gene Steratore's crew for a week are the best illustrations to what really happens behind the scenes. Every time a fan or NFL reporter or analyst says NFL officials ought to be full time, they need to watch this. They ARE full time.

[@cryptohubby3545]

Great video!

[@DV1287]

never knew how complicated an NFL referees' job is!

[@corbums3927]

What a fantastic video. This honestly changed my perspective on refereeing

[@LucZac11]

You gotta remember that we watch with our 4k TVs looking at it from all angles. There is only 7 refs on the field accounting for 22 players. Its hard for them to catch everything. Then when rules have it set up where they cant correct certain things it forces them to be right on first glance.

[@Carbine64]

I don't care if there's 7 of them, if they're blind, deaf, paraplegic, diabetic or what, Saints vs Rams 2018 is inexcusable.

[@MelonSkywalker]

pretty sure the ref that made that call was fired

[@javi__...]

They should have 10 or more. Not like they don't have money for it.

[@aarondonald1611]

Only? They could have more you know, but don't. Wonder why........ref union

[@nexus4095]

@@aarondonald1611 there is no ref union. this isnt baseball

[@CQuick30]

Pretty cool view into things behind the scenes

[@ericradford2142]

That is so amazing.

[@deshontv]

I love sh*t like this, this type of insight

[@nashvillebillsmafia5288]

Great video!! I have an even greater respect for referees

[@ChadamFriedland]

Blows my mind that with this much prep and tech that elementary calls are still blatantly missed. Even the announcers are starting to speak freely about it. Week 12 Bills vs. Eagles comes to mind. I think the officials on the field have a tough enough job, mistakes happen. But when 3+ angles of the same play are available and the review center still blows it, you gotta wonder.

[@Agentrock47]

I find it so interesting that at 32:14 they're using an xbox controller to control the replay system. Not to say this is a bad thing but its truly an innovative approach

[@Zathien]

no need to reinvent the wheel

[@rbzw4787]

That's what we use for controlling our planetarium

[@herbadiver]

People who talk about football in their lives have at least once handled a ball, but all those who criticize officials have never refereed a game in their lives.

[@Comanche427]

MLB officials should take notes on how humble and personable these guys are

[@tecmoguy]

There needs to be about 15 minutes dedicated to offensive holding.

[@BrendanGeormer]

I'd still love to see more transparency by the officiating crew in the NFL like has been seen in the spring leagues. Even if nothing shady is going on like some people believe (such as with ties to gambling), having clear and consistent rulings for the audience to understand the game is critical, as well as good for building trust and ensuring the air of competition is strong as opposed to being more of an entertainment product like the WWE. On the case of it being difficult, there have to be reasonable ways to make the job easier, using things like replay and sensors and all sorts of currently prohibited innovations which would improve the game, but are left out for sake of tradition (see: the first in-helmet radios).

[@EmmaBonn96]

The transparency to me puts me in the mind of the referee I know what they are seeing so I understand the calls they make

[@dmdeester]

NFL Throwback could make an hour-long documentary about the history of hashmarks and it would be great.

[@SammeyFolfo]

Great vid

[@andrewclark6618]

A lot of hateful comments in this comment section. I bet 99% of those people would never be able to officiate a game let alone try to be one. The scrutiny and constant backlash officials get is more than any other job besides the president. You always will make someone upset. They are human just like we are. We all make mistakes, so give them a break. It’s only a game. If you take it too serious, maybe you need to get a life

[@ericradford2142]

I couldn’t agree with you more. Haven’t we all forgotten in this recession that it’s just a game?

[@aarondonald1611]

It's not hateful we're talking about a GAME. Criticizing the reffing does not equal hate. Jesus dude lol. I'm sure these refs are the coolest dudes off the field, but that's not what this is about

[@SPTO]

Pro ref propaganda! j/k i'll take a look at this at a later point. It's actually a good thing to show just how stressful and crazy a job of being an NFL official can be.

[@ffffff52]

man... I live in the wrong side of the USA/MEX border to be aref but the video showed me what beena ref could be and made me want it more XD

[@philipj.sherman2987]

29:04 Blake Grupe from Sedalia, Missouri kicking off for the New Orleans Saints!!

[@aarondonald1611]

BTW everyone watching this. They didn't mention that refs are PART TIME and have other jobs usually. The NFL makes enough money to have a full-time group of refs that use the offseason to improve officiating.

[@Agentrock47]

That's such a huge thing, people complain about how games seem rigged now a days but if the league really wants to prove that, why don't they pay their referees full time?

[@BillyRicker92]

I have a new level of respect for NFL officials being able to handle their job really well and professionally.

[@Diamond-ks4er]

Do one for players and coaches

[@nighthawk674]

I think people who complain about NFL officiating on social media should be forced to be the head referee for an NFL game involving teams they don't root for with no training of any kind. Then, they'll know what it's like to be a ref.

[@aarondonald1611]

Refs don't get training? Wtf are you talking about? They train all the time and still suck at their jobs.

[@jebremocampo9194]

So easy for me to sit here in my comfy chair and hate on the refs, but their job is one thankless job

[@aarondonald1611]

You're here thanking them, so that's false

[@NFLGamespredictor5014]

Hey NFL Throwback I Got a video you should do a trades that were the best trade to the worst trade ranked 1# to the worst in mind. but great video

[@areguapiri]

Most people have no clue how much studying and practice high school, college, and professional referees have to do to learn all of the rules.

[@bigwestreviews4933]

Bring the super challenge to the NFL.

[@eddiewilson5249]

Unseen dreams!

[@robthompson8285]

"Explained" knocking out of the park again. Great video!

[@outdatedm]

Honestly we gotta show our refs some love now and again

[@andrewpadaetz5549]

Shawn Hochuli is a spitting image of his father Ed (both get air time here).

[@frankbuttacavoli637]

Did i miss the part when they talk about the script?

[@kenxnmf]

dropping after the controversial calls in the nba is crazy

[@Nahaintnoway]

An in-depth video about referees! I’m sure the comments will be very reasonable!

[@Redmenace96]

Unpopular opinion: I love refs/umpires. They are committed pros. for decades. The irony (but idiots don't get irony) is that fans complain, we get video replay, AND they still complain. Technology cannot stop complaining. You thought cameras would make it perfect?

[@EmmaBonn96]

While people talk about 4K and slo Mo creating controversial calls I also look at the ability to pause the image. Delay of game and holding look very bad in still images, but they are rules that are meant to be called in real time

[@apollo4619]

Tbh not allowing instant replay to reverse a on field decision should have been a thing since the 1980's not recently

[@thetruth5350]

Rule 1: screw over the lions vs cowboys everytime

[@EmmaBonn96]

Honestly I do have to respect the refs that call a fair penalty on a home team in front of a packed crowd of angry fans. Even if you have security, you are putting the integrity of the game over your safety

[@Monaayy29]

Ed Hochuli would’ve fit well in TV when he retired

[@drawinglinebyline4318]

Motel 6 NFL Referee Commercial...

[@pikatura_23]

you should add being blind and sensitive too

[@LucZac11]

ignorant comment

[@DeepwaterMike]

How does the review booth get it wrong?

[@philipj.sherman2987]

33:23 That means 42% of the time when the play was reviewed, the officials on the field; got it WRONG. That's about 8 times a week, including all plays from all games for that week. 334 occurrences in 2023 /18 weeks /42%.

[@joeg5414]

I wonder what the refs think of this hip drop tackle stuff? That's going to be a big issue this year, and the refs are going to catch a lot of 💩over it

[@gabew7480]

Rule 1: be blind

[@paulgaither]

Came here to say this. You deserve to be the top comment.

[@IAmGrimReefer]

@@paulgaithersame

[@LucZac11]

Ignorant

[@LucZac11]

ignorant comment

[@Gulag00]

lol out loud 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Optimistic_seattle_fan]

This video gave me a lot more respect for refs

[@jeffpearljam1976]

New Orleans No Call

[@K1SH1RYU]

After end of the day, it's just officiating.

[@ericradford2142]

And a game also

[@K1SH1RYU]

@@ericradford2142 this.

[@Saxplayer225]

all that talk about striving towards perfection yet the NOLA No call still happened. what a joke

[@tommclain8893]

Gambling supported and endorsed by the league challenges integrity of the officials. Blowing calls even with replay, not using an eye in the sky says you don’t want to make the game officiated better. Lack of ACCOUNTABILITY hurts your perception. Good fluff piece. Too many calls at the end change outcomes/odds. I’m not a gambler just a football fan. Lions screwed in Dallas AGAIN!

[@matthewerspamer6274]

Gene Seratore is a real-life comic book villain

[@gedhoughton9523]

Accepting Bribes from the Cowboys: Tick

[@xTheRealBossMossx]

The nfl is the WWE LMAO 🤣

[@K1SH1RYU]

I'm a WWE fan and the refs are not like that shit lol, Thank God Vince McMahon is gone for good

[@goalscorerlajon]

The CORRECT title should be The Evolution Of NFL OFFICIALS because there's only ONE REFEREE.

[@MarkMeadows90]

32:13 This man is playing Madden NFL 24. Why can't you leave him alone? lol

[@briangruenewald7536]

HE’S THE ONE WHO CONTROLS THE GAME

[@MarkMeadows90]

@@briangruenewald7536 the one and MIGHTY

[@youdontknow7190]

So important that the NFL won’t hire them full-time because they make excuses that owe them being there part-time won’t improve it drastically. Another lame argument based around money just like adding grass to every stadium. As an adult, I hate everything in the NFL stands for.

[@jayavila1334]

There should be an officiating team officiating the officials 😂

[@TheHarshWay]

Which orifice was the tuck rule pulled out of?

[@Brazil144hopeful]

THE WORLD IS A STAGE. And everyone important on that field is a highly paid actor.

[@mariomcp]

Does this including going to clown college?

[@eggman105]

Why did you cut the chapter about when they get it wrong?

[@33TimberWolf]

Irony: When the NFL (and Roger Goodell) release a video trying to legitimize part-time officials… with several commercials for FanDuel… 🤦‍♂️ #FollowTheMoney #F-kRogerGoodell

[@Matt-Sh]

Nobody's asking for perfection from refs, we're asking for accountability and humility with the opportunity to admit they're wrong with replays

[@TaliaAmata]

So the BJ ruin the cowboys game

[@donnywisniewski7013]

NFL: "Let's create a propaganda video so people believe that we aren't actually controlling the outcome of the games". When we huddle up: we are just waiting for New York to tell us what to call so that we get the desired outcome of the game. (that why we are all wearing an earpiece)

[@aarondonald1611]

100% and make it seem like it's not actually a part-time job (which it is to them)

[@jesseurizar7146]

They evolve to be worse … weird

[@darthruyrd630]

I wish that they would explain how refs got more blind as the years went by

[@slieberman8857]

I still wanna know what happened on that Lions call last season

[@Ryangoslingfeet]

Same

[@AliSumait05]

Give the ref specialized glasses or something on their hat to see what they see.

[@88Cdizzle]

No Morals or Integrity

[@ericradford2142]

Players get released or sent to the minors, coaches and managers get fired, and workers get laid off or fired. A football referee’s job is a difficult one, but once in the league, you’re in until you decide to retire.

[@MelonSkywalker]

​@@ericradford2142you can get fined and fired

[@M5E39_03]

“COME ON REF!”

[@CD.410]

"OK fellas always remember protect the Chiefs and Daddy Mahomes at all cost"

[@ThatOneDude219]

They don't even try to hide it

[@youdontknow7190]

26:18 this is cool but it does not change my perception of what officials do and their role in the league.

[@thenerdyarab7622]

When officials forget rules and no one fixes it real time is infuriating. See illegal bat in the lions-Seahawks game from a few years ago. Back judge admitted he didn’t know the rule.

[@user-es1vk1qk2c]

Where’s the part where they partner w the patriots

[@kevingraves8196]

A las Vegas Documentary

[@K1SH1RYU]

Real

[@StephonLove208]

I’ll say this about NFL refs, they aren’t very sensitive like NBA and MLB officials, who threw guys out for ridiculous reasons like just simply talking back.

[@emantabrizi8218]

I get it... being an official is very difficult. They're human. They make mistakes. And yet, I STILL don't understand how the pass interference committed by the Rams against the Saints in the 2019 NFC Championship went uncalled. Y'all had an HOUR to explain that, and you failed.

[@mariosnum1fan]

2018*

[@emantabrizi8218]

@@mariosnum1fan ... It was January of 2019. I go by the calendar, not the season.

[@mariosnum1fan]

@@emantabrizi8218 ah well that’s still technically wrong. It goes season by season. Even though it took place in 2019, it’s the 2018 nfc champ game. Apologies if this came across as offensive or rather aggressive; was certainly not my intent

[@tylerwilson4855]

At least they aren’t as bad as umpires

[@Hitvr]

Rule 1: don’t call holding on the chiefs

[@tylerandersen_95]

Dude...really??? It's over!! Move on! 🔴🟡🔴🟡