National Football League referees enforce football regulations during a game to maintain fair play. They call plays and determine whether a throw was completed or if a player was knocked down. Players are also penalized for holding and pass interference. The NFL has 121 total referees, as reported by NFL's official website. All the referees are members of the National Football League Referees Association, a labor union that represents the NFL officials in league conversations.
According to NFL's official website, the league scouts officials from all over the country, and high-performing prospects from those are sent to programs like the NFL Mackie Development Program and Legends Officiating Development Program, where they get trained to work at the highest level. Referees work with an umpire, a line judge, a side judge, a down judge, a back judge, and a field judge, as reported by NFL's official website. Referees communicate via various signs throughout a game. Hand gestures are another way they communicate with players and coaches, as per NFL's official website.
Who are the highest-paid NFL referees?
Brad Allen and Craig Wrolstad are the highest-paid NFL referees, as of February 2025. They are paid an average of $250,000 annually. Previously, Walt Anderson also used to make around the same amount before he retired. Another former retired official Tony Corrente used to earn around $230,000 per year (via Pro Football Network).
NFL officials on average earn $205,000 during the regular season according to the figure based on the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association (via Sporting News).
Also read: Who is the oldest NFL referee?
FAQs on NFL Referees
A. The average NFL referee compensation is $205,000 annually (via Pro Football Network).
A. NFL has 121 league officials (via NFL's official website).
A. According to NFL's official website, seven NFL referees are present on the field.
