Every week, NFL refs take the field, ready to officiate some of the most watched sporting events in the history of sports. To them, the whole world is watching, and to us, scrutinizing their mistakes gives us some validation into why our favorite teams might have lost. Stay up to date with the most recent NFL ref controversies and news here!
So how much do NFL refs make? The average NFL ref salary is reported to be around $205,000 per year, with some refs making much more than that. In order to become an NFL referee, you have to have at least 10 years of football officiating under your belt and an advanced knowledge of the game. There is nowhere to hide on the football field, and the formal NFL Officiating Department reviews every call that was made correctly and incorrectly in a game. That type of pressure, and the requirement to make split second decisions at full speed makes this position one of the highest-pressure positions in sports. And while we are all rooting for refs to do their jobs well, we are also here to call out refs when they mess up!
