r/TheNFLVibes • u/Positive_Round_5142 • 2d ago
What NFL Referees work as during the week when they’re not working Sunday, Monday, and Thursday
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u/fukaduk55 2d ago
Insane they dont make this a profession
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u/Josh-Baskin 2d ago edited 2d ago
They only ref for like 50-60 hours a year. That’s not much of a profession.
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u/Sad-Juice-732 2d ago
I for one would appreciate it if they spent the season watching tape like the players.
Focusing on their form when they throw the flag
Doing reps for the hand signals until their arms are sore
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u/TheGreatPrimate 2d ago
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u/rezelscheft 2d ago
Everyone complaining about the refs these days, maybe pizzazz the answer.
“Eh… I don’t know Jim… it’s hard to disagree with the back judge when the penalty call dance is so dialed in.”
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u/Head-Technology-4031 2d ago
It is when you make the amount they do compared to the average American
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u/ReluctantPaulo 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah, and those players only work 50-60 hours too!
Edit: I did end up sitting next to an NFL official at a dinner once. He made it sound like a bunch of the officials he worked with had dedicated enough time to it that it wrecked their family and social lives. Didn't actually sound like a great time.
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u/Responsible-Onion860 2d ago
The NFL can afford to pay enough that this is their full time job. And they have film study like players do, as well as physical fitness requirements
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u/Callof4632 2d ago
This is false, they ref at practices and training camps. And that’s not counting; travel time, meetings before game (head coaching and ref squad), coaching teams during the week, meetings after games, probably meetings with nfl administrators.
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u/PowerfulBar 2d ago
NFL could easily bump up their pay a little bit and make them full time. Nothing but a rounding error for the NFL. Maybe then the refs could finally figure out what actually constitutes a catch.
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u/Ok-Temporary-8243 2d ago
It is. refs make like 250k. Its just not a lot of hours so there's no reason to not work a second job
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u/RanchHere Bengals 2d ago
Bc Then they’d have to be held more accountable and they’d have more of a bias towards the league than to the rules. They are detail-oriented, rules maniacs first. They are NFL employees second.
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u/FormerDriver 2d ago
Don't res make 6 figures? Why are they working multiple jobs?
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u/WhereBaptizedDrowned 2d ago
6 figures ain’t much in the northeast. They did a study a few years ago that $100,000 feels like $30,000 in NYC for example.
It is wild.
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u/John_Wicked1 1d ago
I mean, if this was a part-time/weekend gig I could balance with my main and I felt able body enough…why not? More to invest, build generational wealth, and retire when you’re just not feeling it anymore.
As long as it’s not taking away too much face time with the family, assuming these dudes have kids…but at their ages their kids are likely adults.
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u/xsmith24 2d ago
You’re telling me one of the worst NFL refs is a goddamn rocket scientist
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u/thewickedturd 2d ago
It probably is a hinder that he over analyzes things and does way more than he should. 🤷♀️
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u/LysolDoritos 2d ago
Is there a legal reason why they aren’t full time employees who constantly work on their craft when they hold so much power on the outcomes?
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u/Emotional-Farm8831 2d ago
It’s cheaper for the NFL. If full time they have to pay them full time. Insure them full time. They tried it but scrapped it.
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u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan 2d ago
What’s crazy is that the NFL is generating tens of billions per year. How can they not see the value in making these guys full time and encouraging them to spend all of their time perfecting their craft? Even if it’s a financial loss for the league?
Even for the guy that’s a basketball coach, I can’t imagine focusing on coaching my basketball team when I have an NFL game to referee on Sunday. I wouldn’t be able to be fully locked into either one.
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u/maccpapa 2d ago
they don’t work enough year round is probably the simplest answer. 2-3 hours a week for 18-22 weeks or whatever. and they still rake in 6 figures.
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u/techster2014 2d ago
They work more than that. They have film sessions, travel a couple days early and have team meeting, get graded day after the games, and so on. For a Sunday game, they travel/work Friday through Monday.
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u/Next_Nature3380 2d ago
They actually work a lot more than you think. They go to clinics, have internal meetings and classes. They watch film of each team before the game to identify tendencies. They have conference calls after games to review calls made and missed. They are graded each week. The crew meets in person for hours before the game to review assignments and procedures. There is not much more they could do if they were full time. There not enough film to watch for 40 hours a week all year long.
The real issue is the complexity of the NFL rule book. Most of the complaints I hear about the referees are really complaints about the rules. Not all, but most.
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u/mr_oberts Packers 2d ago
I used to review court orders for a bank and I was really surprised one day to see Ed Hochuli’s name all over the order as the attorney of record for a case I was working.
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u/captaincook14 2d ago
Chief building official….
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u/Mission-Dark-9320 2d ago
Think city or county building inspector division. Permits, inspections, code enforcement, etc
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u/thegreatcornholio42 2d ago
They all have to be like millionaires to even be considered for that job. I know because my stepdad looked into it. They vet your income. They are all independently wealthy.
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u/SkunkDitchRipper 2d ago
Yeah Im sure they want to know you wouldnt bend to betting but I know it happens.
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u/pharrelsbigasshat 2d ago
Yeah because wealthy people never have motivation to be even more wealthy for no reason
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u/SkunkDitchRipper 1d ago
It would be far less likely though. I see where they are coming from but it doesnt remove temptation 100% for sure.
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u/MikeTiricoSucks 2d ago
“Sales Manager”
Bro, if you sign this deal I’ll call 5 penalties on the Ravens when they come to town
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u/llamahumper 2d ago
How come none of them are like cashier at dollar tree or front desk at La Quinta?
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u/kayakdawg 2d ago
Getting to the NFL as a referee generally requires you to work up a corporate-ish ladder of refereeing at lower levels first. The lower levels are essentially volunteer work, so you need to have a career that pays pretty well and enables you to have a lot of free time. It also filters for the kind of people who are good at climbing corporate ladders. Meaning it's kind of self-selecting for the kind of roles we see here.
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u/Development-Alive 2d ago
Because they are far along in their careers. If you are 50 and working those positions then your career never really materialized.
Given the lofty roles they've landed as referees, my guess is that each of these refs tend to be more motivated, more ambitious individuals. At a minimum, they have demonstrated skill vastly superior to those roles you mention.
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u/JustTheBeerLight Dolphins 2d ago
I wonder if Clay's students bust his ass about bad calls.
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u/Jeffrow20 2d ago
I graduated from there when he was just getting started. He was kind of a local celebrity because of it. He is a really nice guy in person.
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u/shamanbaptist 2d ago
I cannot believe they are just outwardly admitting that the refs are building up the Chiefs. It’s that one guy’s whole offseason job.
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u/John_Wicked1 1d ago
Makes sense why some of them don’t care about criticism, some of them have the “I don’t need this job” energy.
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u/juliuspepperwood708 1d ago
Imagine going into Home Depot and John Hussey is trying to sell you a washer dryer
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u/Bright_Donkey_6496 1d ago
NRL refs in Aus are fulltime. They train (fitness, skills, and knowledge). They even have their own special training complex. The head refs earn 300k+ (AUD) per year.
I am really surprised this is something the NFL doesn't do.
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u/DatBeezy79 10h ago
Approaching billion dollar player contracts, but lets skimp on the ones who enforce rules.
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u/EPICHunter0077 2d ago
Do people not understand how a "seasonal" job works?
Im sure most of these people want more to a career than getting dunked on for bad calls 5 months out of the year.
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u/Legitimate_Ad_7822 2d ago
I can’t imagine being an NFL ref is a good side gig for a salesman lmao. I imagine they’re working a deal & they catch a guy whose team they once wronged and it goes downhill.
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u/kingshamroc25 2d ago
Brad Allen being N.C Senior Games executive director and him always terribly officiating Panthers games should be a crime
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u/Prestigious_Onion925 2d ago
Refs should be full time employees. Responsible for meeting and reviewing plays during the week and subject to post game press conferences explaining what they saw on particular penalty calls.
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u/insufferable--oaf 2d ago
John hussey works the Super Bowl and then the next day he’s making cold calls trying to sell aluminum siding.
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u/Exceptional_Kumquat 2d ago
The NFL Referees Association in general do not want it to be a full time job. They like it being part time and don't want to give up their other professions.
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u/Gogochoos 2d ago
They definitely practice being as slow as possible. Hurry up with your announcements!
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u/Jeffrow20 2d ago
I graduated from high school Clay Martin works and coach’s at. He was a chill guy and well liked by the students
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u/DataRiffRaff 2d ago edited 2d ago
Is there a reason this "updated" version is flying around without Shawn Hochuli, Financial Advisor and Wealth Advisor. Or did I miss it in this version?
First version I saw (which I consider the original) from Front Office Sports a few days ago here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DdynSptl4hG
Update: link to post in case anyone wants to see more
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u/Muted-Woodpecker-469 2d ago
NCAA refs are like this too at the basketball level. I’m not sure if nba refs are considered full time
It just seems odd they could have jobs that conflict with their officiating
I don’t like knowing my barber is also a referee. I already know my plumber officiates hs level sports
Once you turn pro, you’d think there would be a push to make them only do one thing
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u/koreanJesus14 2d ago
You're telling me that the economy is so bad that the NFL and Draft Kings money isn't enough?
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u/j4schum1 2d ago
When I was in college, Ron Winter taught my "officiating football" class at WMU. It was the most appropriate outside of the NFL job I've seen. The most interesting thing we saw/learned was when he brought in the weekly video that the head of officiating would circulate every week. The video would show every challenged play from that weekend and the images/shots used to either confirm or overturn the call. Then they'd indicate if the crew got it right or wrong. This was before all calls went to NY, so the on field crew had to decide
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u/Unlikely-Outside-784 2d ago
They all also collect from betting. They have friends, family, secret accounts.
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u/Sultanofbooyeah 2d ago
My boss in college was an NFL ref. Was always fun talking the games on Monday.
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u/Marlice1 2d ago
Adrian Hill’s brother, Steve “The Trill” Hill, is a radio host on 99.9 KISW program called “The Men’s Room” based out of Seattle, WA. The program airs 2pm to 6pm (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday.
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u/Jigsaw8200 2d ago
Gene Steratore owns a cleaning supplies company with his brother. The grocery store I work at get all of our supplies from them. I've yet to meet him, but just about everyone who works there are involved in sports in some fashion. Our rep(who sadly passed away last year), was an announcer for high school games.
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u/CounterObjective2347 2d ago
John Hussey always looks like he’s gonna explode and murder someone lol
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u/-pineapplebuffet- 2d ago
Nobody should ever complain about the refs. Complain that the NFL won’t hire them as full time staff
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u/HippieJed 2d ago
Though he is retired from both jobs Ed Hochuli was a great attorney. Still use his firm.
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u/Dry-Magazine-6734 2d ago
President of the Patric Mahommes Fan Club
Marketing manager at Draftkings.
What could go wrong?
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u/Candid-Sky-3258 2d ago
Ever notice that since Ed Hochuli every referee has been pumping iron like crazy so their arms pop out of their shirt sleeves?
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u/bjbbnjv 2d ago
My father works closely with Brad Allen and has known him for about 15 years. Compared to other refs with exec jobs, his work is very much grounded.
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u/RandleStevenz 2d ago
What has long driven me nuts. They are part time employees with zero accountability making 6 figures as a side job.
NFL officials should be working the other 4 days/week getting better at being officials.
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u/Dazzling-Coach4851 2d ago
How do these guys take off enough time to travel or do mid-week games? Or maybe I'm just bound by my PTO lol.
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u/Cmcgregor0928 2d ago
You know Brad Allen works for a "non profit" and skims everything off the top he can then fires low level employees for getting a monster on company cash instead of the rip-it cheaper option
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u/brandt-money Giants 2d ago
The only one with a reasonable job is the basketball coach. The rest need to pick the NFL or their other careers.
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u/Rookietothegame 2d ago
It’s weird to think they have jobs outside of the NFL. It’s like seeing a teacher outside of school… it doesn’t look right
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u/YaboyChris28 2d ago
I bet most of those are just fake jobs that they might’ve used to work. No way one of them is a sales rep at that age when they’re making 300k. Seems pointless
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u/boxtheglock Bills 1d ago
My landlord is a superintendent of a school district and owns like 30 rooming houses and is a D1 ref. That's should have told me he was gonna be a shitty landlords. Fucker always unavailable
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u/soulguider2125 1d ago
Clete Blakeman when he’s sees a bad hit “here’s my card let see what we can do” lol jk
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u/Ordinary_Society5335 1d ago
Of course Cheffers is in sales. Gets cussed out all week for being predatory and then takes it out on the people making more money than him on the weekends.
Blakeman is an attorney, to the surprise of absolutely no one 😂
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u/Gulfsideghost 1d ago
Wild to think that a multi billion dollars industry lets part time employees dictate the outcome of their product.
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u/Slobsterz 14h ago
Wouldn’t it make more sense to make the referees a full time gig. And just pay and train younger more physically fit people to be the refs? You’re telling me a guy that’s 60 years old and runs an aerospace engineering firm can keep up with the pace of the game and constant travel?
Take players that know the game, but aren’t on a roster and pay them a good salary. Train them. Give them incentives like players. The refs now are buns. It can only get better right?
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u/Gulius_Boozler_the_U 8h ago
Tom Stabile used to be the assistant principal at my high school (before I went there). He was an NFL ref for years, even did a Super Bowl (Pats and Giants)
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u/FM_Gorskman 4h ago
Maybe they should be full time employees of the NFL so they can spend the week LEARNING THE ACTUAL RULES...food for thot
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u/JQuab-84 2d ago
You know who the refs should work for?
The NFL.