Adrian Hill and Scott Novak promoted to referee position

The NFL has selected its two newest white hats. Today, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron has announced that side judges Adrian Hill and Scott Novak have been promoted to the referee position. They will be replacing retirees Walt Coleman and Pete Morelli.

Adrian Hill

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Adrian Hill entered the NFL in 2010 as a line judge from Conference USA where he worked at the referee position. In 2007, Hill worked in the now-defunct NFL Europe league. He worked on Craig Wrolstad’s crew this season.

Hill has worked as a line judge, field judge, and side judge in the NFL. He didn’t receive any playoff games as a line judge but has worked three playoff games since his move to a deep wing, including a wild card round this past season.

Hill has taken part in preseason referee tryouts in 2013, 2017, and 2018. He has been on the league’s radar for years and now has finally received the call to lead an officiating crew in the NFL.

Scott Novak

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Scott Novak joined the NFL in 2014, and had worked as both a side judge and field judge. He worked on Brad Allen’s crew this season.

He had a decorated career as a college referee in the Big 12 Conference, calling many high profile games including, the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl and the 2012 BCS Championship Game. 

Novak did not work a playoff game in the 2018 postseason, as an on-field official nor as an alternate. His last postseason assignment was in the 2017 Divisional Round. 

Similar to Hill, Novak participated in the referee tryouts in the 2015 and 2018 preseasons.

Throughout the offseason, the NFL will continue to interview potential officiating candidates, since more turnover on the officiating roster is likely to come before May 15, the end of the so-called “dark period.” With two and a half more months to go, we may see more promotions if more referees decide to hang up the white hat.