Is NFL referee a full time job?

Officials are considered to be part-time employees of the NFL. As a result, they don't receive insurance benefits. However, they do have a 401k plan with a partial matching contribution. They also have representation from the NFL Referees Association.

Are the NFL refs full time?

All of the referees on the NFL officiating roster are part-time and have what is called 'a dark period' between the end of the season and the middle of May. That time and during the summer is when they typically focus on their other job.

Do NFL refs have day jobs?

Second-year NFL referee Adrian Hill's job in Maryland as a software engineer is largely a 9-to-5 position on weekdays. He's typical of many NFL game officials in that respect. The league gravitates toward officials with desk jobs or those who own businesses and have scheduling flexibility from August to February.

How much does a full time NFL ref make?

How much does an NFL ref get paid in the regular season? The NFL does not release salary figures for referees but, according to Sporting News, the highest paid NFL refs make $250,000 annually. NFL referees on average usually make about $205,000 per year.

What do NFL refs do in the off season?

Officials go to organized team activities (OTAs), minicamps and training camps, where they officiate practices and call preseason games to get into regular-season form. They prepare for these games as they would for the regular season, and they are evaluated the same way.

Does The NFL Need To Make Referees Full Time Employees For Better Officiating? | Pat McAfee Reacts

Do NFL refs pay for travel?

Refs are required to arrive at least 24 hours before a game. They fly first-class and the league covers all their travel expenses.

Do NFL referees get benefits?

Officials are considered to be part-time employees of the NFL. As a result, they don't receive insurance benefits. However, they do have a 401k plan with a partial matching contribution. They also have representation from the NFL Referees Association.

Do refs get paid off?

Refs are actually not paid per game, but rather annually. They earn a flat salary for the season and then bonuses, which can come per-game or for working postseason games.

How many hours a week do NFL refs work?

A conservative estimate is 20-25 hours week – not including travel. For head referees 30-35 hours. But there's always another game to watch or another page in the rule book worth re-reading.

Who is the highest-paid NFL referee?

Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Referee? The highest-paid NFL referee reportedly is Brad Allen. Walt Anderson did top the list up until the end of the 2021-2022 season when he retired. Both refs made about $250,000 for the 2021-2022 season.

How hard is it to become an NFL referee?

The path to becoming an NFL referee is a long one. In order to be considered for the position, referees are expected to have at least ten years of experience. This experience is usually gained by refereeing high school games, college games, and semi-pro games.

Do NFL refs go to school?

There are no specific education requirements for working in the NFL as a referee. Many NFL referees have at least a bachelor's degree in any major, though. Those majoring in sports health, sports management or a related field may become more prepared for the role.

Do NFL refs ever get fired?

No, but they do get written up. At the end of every game, each official's work is evaluated by senior non-field referees. They're not just looking for bad calls, but other things that you wouldn't even notice like an official being out of position or not paying attention in a critical situation.

Do NFL refs have second jobs?

They are paid well, but most of them have "day" jobs during the week and throughout the offseason. Some, including referees Walt Anderson and Terry McAulay, are officiating supervisors at the college level. Others have careers entirely unrelated to football.

Do NFL refs bet on games?

Sportsbook – Any brick-and-mortar, mobile or online establishment that accepts bets on sporting events and pays out winnings. No Illegal Gambling NFL Personnel are strictly prohibited from participating in or facilitating any form of illegal gambling.

Do NFL refs talk to players?

Although managing players is primarily the responsibility of the coaching staff, officials can facilitate the conduct of the game if specific officials manage certain players. To do that, officials must talk with players frequently.

How do NFL refs stay warm?

Hochuli told me that most of the referees will wear a full body wetsuit as their first layer. Then, they will put on 2 to 4 layers of cold weather compression gear over that -- on the legs and upper body. And on top of that, the uniform. The pants of the uniform are heavy as well.

What is the starting salary for an NFL referee?

There are various reports, but the lower end of those reports places an NFL official's salary at around $3,000-5,000 per postseason game. Meanwhile, the higher estimates place a Super Bowl salary for an NFL referee at around $50,000.

How often does an NFL ref work?

A conservative estimate is 20-25 hours week – not including travel. For head referees 30-35 hours. But there's always another game to watch or another page in the rule book worth re-reading.

Do Refs favor home teams?

Not intentionally, but it seems at times that the crowd and the official's familiarity with what the home team is trying to accomplish do influence a referee's subconscious, and as a result—his whistle. Statistics prove that home teams receive more calls in their favor.

How much waterboys get paid in the NFL?

Thieneman's latest clip, which drew nearly 300,000 viewers in one day, claims that the average NFL water boy salary is actually around $53,000. That figure is also reported elsewhere, such as the sports website Stack, although data from the league itself isn't readily available.

Can referees get fired?

Can referees get fired? No, but all referees have their work reviewed by senior officials every week, and they get feedback on what they did wrong and are given training on how to improve. An officiating crew will be discussing calls at half-time and at the end of the game, but that's not their primary concern.

How much does a Super Bowl ref make?

The NFL does not release salary figures for referees but, according to Sporting News, the highest paid NFL refs make $250,000 annually. NFL referees on average usually make about $205,000 per year.

How much does an NFL cheerleader make?

A report just last year from NBC News pinpointed the average pay for NFL cheerleaders to be about $150 a game, or roughly $22,500 a year, which is not much different than what it was reported to be in the original Raiders lawsuit.

Is there an age limit for NFL referees?

The NFL hires most officials between the ages of 40 and 45. So, simple math indicates any official who has put in 20 years has the retirement window open. Some officials suffer chronic pain or get injured before age 60 and have to retire.