The NFL is facing a potential shortage of experienced officials according to the latest stats.
There are few more scrutinized jobs in all the world than professional sports referee. Regardless of which sport, where it's played, or who is playing it, referees are under a constant microscope. To make matters worse, professional sports are particularly hard to ref — the athletes are so fast, powerful and elusive. Blink, and you'll miss a grab of the shoulder or a bump to the hip.
That's especially true in the National Football League. How often have we seen massive controversies over a poorly defined "catch" or errant whistle? That holding call late in the Super Bowl? You'll never convince me it was holding. Those moments can shape the outcome of a game, but more than that, they can generate the ire of an entire fanbase.
According to new stats, the NFL's pool of available officials could be shallower than normal for the 2023-24 season.
The NFL is could have a shortage of referees next season
Here's some information on the latest trend of NFL referee staffing:
To lose double-digit referees in consecutive years is certainly notable. Of course, the NFL still has enough bodies to man the sideline and, despite what a frustrated fan on Sunday afternoon might feel in the moment, there are no more qualified, more competent refs in the world. NFL refs — just like NBA refs and MLB umps — undergo rigorous training and years of qualifications before taking on the mantle.
Still, this is the exact kind of statistic NFL fans will reference when the next inevitable officiating controversy strikes. Even the best refs make mistakes, and oftentimes fans are capable of stirring up a heated debate even when there isn't an actual mistake to criticize. Don't be surprised if this number comes up in conversations about the state of pro football and the sanctity of the sport later this fall.
For now, expect the NFL to take every measure to assure fans (and teams) of the quality of its referees. There's nothing worse than that ringing whistle when your team is on the precipice of glory, but odds are NFL referees will spend next season making significantly more correct calls than incorrect calls.
