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6 officials hired by NFL for 2018 season
Al Riveron announced the NFL has hired six new officials who will officiate during the upcoming 2018 season.
Senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron announced the NFL has hired six new officials who will officiate during the upcoming 2018 season. The new hires are Land Clark, Matt Edwards, Anthony Jeffries, Tony Josselyn, Mark Stewart, and Don Willard. All six men worked at least one year in the NFL Officiating Development Program.
Congratulations to our new hires for the 2018 season! pic.twitter.com/IE8FqGWJEB
— NFL Officiating (@NFLOfficiating) March 29, 2018
Jeffries and Josselyn, both from the SEC, worked at the field judge position during their time in the program. They each had one preseason assignment; Jeffries in 2017 and Josselyn in 2016. In addition, Josselyn was the middle judge for the 2016 Senior Bowl.Â
Edwards and Willard, from the Big Ten conference, worked as side judges for two seasons each. They also each had one preseason assignment while in the program. Edwards had an on-field assignment in the 2015 and 2016 preseasons, and Willard in 2016 and 2017. Willard, known for his announcement of the year, worked alongside Tony Josselyn in the 2016 Senior Bowl, officiating as back judge.
Stewart spent two seasons in the program as a line judge and previously worked the same position in the Big 12. Clark spent two seasons in the program, as well, but as a side judge and previously worked in the Pac-12. Stewart had an on-field assignment in the 2017 preseason, and Clark in 2016 and 2017. Stewart was the line judge for the 2016 National Championship game, the 2017 Peach Bowl, and was the center judge for the 2017 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Clark worked the 2016 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl as a side judge, and was the referee for the 2017 Sugar Bowl.
Clark and Willard are the only two among this group with referee experience in the NCAA, so they may be on the radar for potential white hat promotions in the coming years.
|  |  | Name | Yrs in ODP | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FJ, SJ | 130Â | Land Clark | 2016-2017 | Pac-12 |
| SJ | 96 | Matt Edwards | 2015-2016 | Big Ten |
| FJ | 36 | Anthony Jeffries | 2017 | SEC |
| FJ*Â | 67Â | Tony Josselyn | 2016-2017 | SEC |
| LJ* | 75Â | Mark Stewart | 2016-2017 | Big 12 |
| SJ, BJ | 58Â | Don Willard | 2016-2017 | Big Ten |
The positions shown indicate development roster positions. *Josselyn also was a middle judge in the 2016 Senior Bowl, and Stewart was a center judge in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl; both games are used for NFL officiating development.
