08-10-2017, 11:12 AM
- Full-time NFL officials are coming this fall.
According to The MMQB's Albert Breer, the NFL Referees Association approved a plan to begin implementing full-time employees during the 2017 campaign.
Breer reported a few full-timers will be on the field at the start of the regular season and the plan is to eventually hire 21 to 24 total.
The union resisted the move for years because officials enjoyed the luxury of building careers outside the league's purview. While the league will be hiring full-time options, part-timers are expected to still be in the fold.
Of course, human error can't be erased. But a full-time official can immerse himself or herself into the role, which should help the overall quality of officiating.