nfl referees assignments

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NFL referee assignments Week 9: Who are the officials for every game this week?

As always, the goal for NFL officials who are assigned to NFL games in Week 9 of the 2019 season is for observers not to care who's assigned to what game. If nobody's talking about the officiating, that generally means those calling the games are doing a good job.

Of course, in 2019, chatter around NFL officiating has been as loud as ever, leaving referees to explain questionable calls made by their crews after most games. With the addition of pass interference to the NFL's replay review system this year, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron's performance is also under the microscope.

Each week, the NFL announces its referee assignments for its slate of games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday. Each referee is tied to his crew of six other officials, including the umpire, line judge, side judge, back judge, field judge and down judge.

MORE:  Lions-Packers fiasco illustrates NFL's officiating issues

NFL referee assignments Week 9

The NFL has released its roster of referees and officials for Week 9  of the 2019 NFL season. Here are the assignments for every game.

49ers at Cardinals referee, officials

Vikings at Chiefs referee, officials

Bears at Eagles referee, officials

Colts at Steelers referee, officials

Titans at Panthers referee, officials

Redskins at Bills referee, officials

Jets at Dolphins referee, officials

Texans at Jaguars referee, officials

Lions at Raiders referee, officials

Buccaneers at Seahawks referee, officials

Packers at Chargers referee, officials

Browns at Broncos referee, officials

Patriots at Ravens referee, officials

Cowboys at Giants referee, officials

NFL officials assignments, responsibilities

Each of the seven NFL officials on the field in a given NFL game have specific roles, watching different areas of the field and looking out for different kinds of penalties on a given play.

Below are the responsibilities of each official, via NFL Operations .

Lining up 10-12 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the offensive backfield, the referee is the white-hat wearing leader of the crew who signals all penalties and is the final authority on all rulings. Below are the referee's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches nap; follows QB until action moves downfield; then follows runner to determine forward progress and position of the ball; determines first downs or if a measurement is necessary.

Pass plays: Shadows QB from drop to release; drops back as the play starts and monitors offensive tackles; turns attention solely to QB as defense approaches; watches for roughing the passer; rules on intentional grounding; makes the decision whether a loose ball is a fumble or incomplete pass.

Special teams: Watches for running into/roughing the kicker.

Lining up next to the referee 10-12 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the offensve backfield, the umpire primarily watches for holding and blocking fouls. He or she also reviews player equipment, counts offensive players on the field and marks off penalty yardage. Below are the umpire's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special teams-plays.

Run plays: Watches for false starts on offensive line; watches for illegal blocks by the offense or any defensive fouls at the line of scrimmage.

Pass plays: Watches for false stars on offensive line; on screens, turns attention to intended receiver to make sure he is able to run his route; watches for blocking penalties.

Special teams: Watches for any penalties.

Lining up on the sideline and looking directly down the line of scrimmage, the down judge directs the chain crew, informs the ref of the down and rules on sideline plays on the nearest half of the field. Below are the down judge's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches for offside or encroachment; monitors sideline; determines when/if a runner is out of bounds; marks runner's forward progress.

Pass plays: Watches nearest receiver for first seven yards of his route until he is clear the point of legal contact for defensive backs; watches for pass interference.

Special teams: Watches for offside and encroachment; rules on penalties involving blockers and defenders on trick plays.

Lining up on the sideline opposite the down judge and looking directly down the line of scrimmage, the line judge has similar duties without the chain crew direction. Below are the line judge's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches for offside and encroachment; watches blockers and defenders on nearest side for penalties.

Pass plays: Watches for offside and encroachment on nearest side of field; follows nearest receiver for seven yards downfield; moves into offensive backfield to determine if pass is forwards or backwards; makes sure passer is behind the line of scrimmage when he throws the ball.

Special teams: Stays at line of scrimmage on punts to make sure only players on the ends of the line move downfield before the kick; rules on whether the kick crosses the line of scrimmage; watches kicking team for penalties.

• Field judge

Lining up on the same sideline as the line judge but 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the defensive backfield, the field judge counts defensive players and watches wide receivers/defensive backs on the nearest side of the field. Below are the field judge's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches widest receiver's blocking and looks for illegal use of hands or holding; determines if/when a runner on nearest side of the field goes out of bounds.

Pass plays: Watches widest receiver on nearest side of the field and makes sure he is able to run his route without interference; rules on whether a pass to nearest side of the field is incomplete; rules on whether a receiver is in or out of bounds when he makes a catch; watches for pass interference.

Special teams: Rules on blocking during punts; lines up under goal posts to rule on whether field goals and extra points are good.

Lining up on the same sideline as the down judge but 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the defensive backfield, the side judge backs up the clock operator, signals to the ref when time expires for each quarter and counts defensive players. Below are the side judge's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches widest receiver's blocking and looks for illegal use of hands or holding; determines if/when a runner on nearest side of the field goes out of bounds.

Pass plays: Watches widest receiver on nearest side of the field and makes sure he is able to run his route without interference; rules on whether a pass to nearest side of the field is incomplete; rules on whether a receiver is in or out of bounds when he makes a catch; watches for pass interference.

Special teams: Watches punt returner and any action around him; joins umpire in defensive backfield on field goal and PAT attampts; watches for penalties along the line of scrimmage.

Usually lining up on the tight end's side, the back judge is positioned 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the defensive backfield. The back judge keeps track of the play clock and all TV breaks, counts defensive players and focuses on tight ends and all the players on the end of the lines. Below are the back judge's assignments on run plays, pass plays and special-teams plays.

Run plays: Watches tight end for illegal blocking or defensive penalties.

Pass plays: Watches tight end for illegal use of hands or defensive interference; rules on whether a receiver made a legal catch; determines who recovered a fumble.

Special teams: Rules on fair catches; lines up under goal posts to rule on whether field goals and extra points are good.

Assignments Week 17

Assignments Week 2, 2014

Assignments Week 1, 2024

2024 preseason Assignments

Assignments UFL 2024 playoffs

2024 UFL season Assignments

Assignments

Week 17 referee assignments.

Shawn Hochuli will officiate the final Thursday night game of the season, as the Cowboys take on the Titans.

In the penultimate week of the 2022 regular season, Shawn Hochuli and his crew will officiate the final Thursday Night Football game of the season, as the Cowboys take on the Titans. John Hussey is off this week.

Scheduled assignments are subject to change.

Thursday, Dec. 29

• Cowboys at Titans   Prime  — Shawn Hochuli

Sunday, Jan. 1

• Cardinals at Falcons  — Alex Kemp
• Bears at Lions  — Adrian Hill
• Jaguars at Texans  — Scott Novak
• Broncos at Chiefs  — Tra Blake
• Dolphins at Patriots  — Brad Allen
• Colts at Giants  — Craig Wrolstad
• Saints at Eagles  — Jerome Boger
• Panthers at Buccaneers  — Brad Rogers
• Browns at Commanders  — Bill Vinovich
• 49ers at Raiders  — Clay Martin
• Jets at Seahawks  — Ron Torbert
• Vikings at Packers  — Carl Cheffers
• Rams at Chargers  — Clete Blakeman
• Steelers at Ravens   NBC   Peacock  — Land Clark

Monday, Jan. 2

• Bills at Bengals   ESPN   ABC  — Shawn Smith

Week 17 officiating liveblog

Week 16 referee assignments

Cam Filipe is a forensic scientist and has been involved in football officiating for 12 years. Cam is in his fourth season as a high school football official. This is his ninth season covering NFL officiating for Football Zebras.

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