In an unusual and unprecedented decision, the National Football League (NFL) has dismissed three game officials from its ranks but offered them positions in major college football conferences, according to a report by Ben Austro of Football Zebras. Traditionally, officials let go from the NFL have not been given such fallback opportunities, making this move a significant departure from past practices.
The three officials affected are second-year umpire James Carter, third-year line judge Robin DeLorenzo, and rookie down judge Robert Richeson. Carter previously served as an alternate official during last season’s wild card round due to a spate of injuries at the umpire position. DeLorenzo, however, had not qualified for a postseason assignment during her two seasons in the league, while Richeson, being in his first year, was not yet eligible for playoff duties.
Although these officials are being reassigned to college football, the exact conferences they are headed to remain unspecified. These are believed to be major “Power Five” conferences, which include the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12, and Big 12. It also remains unclear whether any of the three will have a pathway back into the NFL’s officiating development program in the future.
Football Zebras reached out to all three officials, as well as Scott Green, the executive director of the NFL Referees Association; Ramon George, the NFL’s vice president of officiating; and a league spokesperson. All either declined to comment or did not respond to inquiries.
According to Austro, by accepting the league’s reassignment offer, the officials are choosing to bypass the standard union grievance procedures typically available to them. This suggests a possible willingness to remain involved in officiating at a high level, even outside the NFL framework.
This move by the NFL may signal a shift in how the league manages performance and accountability among its officiating staff, possibly opening doors for more flexible career paths and disciplinary measures in the future.