Seven National Football League officials will sit out the upcoming season due to concerns relating to the coronavirus.
Five of the seven are “on-field” officials who monitor the logistics of the gameplay, and the two others are replay officials who judge controversial plays when challenged by either team’s coach, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero said.
Five on-field officials and two replay officials have taken a leave of absence for the 2020 NFL season, per sources.
None of the on-field officials are referees. A relatively small number opting out overall.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 14, 2020
The officials are back judge Tony Steratore, field judge Joe Larrew, field judge Greg Gautreaux, line judge Jeff Bergman, and back judge Steve Freeman. The names of the two replay officials were not provided by the league.
The officials will be paid $30,000 as part of a guaranteed deal struck between the NFL Referees Association and the league.
The NFL has promised to keep officials close so as to minimize travel and to mitigate the risk of catching or spreading the coronavirus.
The season starts on Sept. 10 with a matchup between the Houston Texans and reigning Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs.
