The NFL is auditioning potential future referees this preseason

The NFL will audition current officials to be a referee. This audition process doesn’t guarantee the official will be a referee in the future, but it indicates who the NFL thinks could don the white hat in the future.

Referee auditions are just part of the process to create future white hats

When the NFL hires a college referee, they are immediately on the radar as a future pro white hat. They have put in several years in college and the spring pro leagues as a referee. For several years, retired referee Bill Leavy ran a program that trained and evaluated current pro officials for a potential referee position. Being in Leavy’s program didn’t automatically mean that official was going to be a referee, but it was a big development step.

Being a NFL referee just isn’t about proper mechanics and penalty signals. Referees have to be strong leaders and learn many nuances of leading a crew. Leavy’s program addressed that need.

When Leavy suddenly died in March 2023, that referee training program went into flux. The reorganized NFL officiating office will have to address the referee training program going forward.

Referee auditions return for a second year after pandemic hiatus

After taking a hiatus for the pandemic, referee auditions returned last year, and are back again this year. While the NFL isn’t confirming who is auditioning, by reading the tea leaves (particularly a rare umpire alternate in the preseason), we can make a good prediction.

The following officials are auditioning to be a referee during the 2024 preseason.

Alex Moore

Alex Moore is entering his third season as an umpire. He wears number 49 and is on Shawn Smith’s crew. Moore was a college referee in the Southeast Conference. Before joining the NFL, he worked in the USFL as a referee. Last year, Moore worked a divisional playoff game in his first year eligible as an official.

This is his second audition for referee. He worked the Week 2 preseason game between the Patriots and Panthers.

Brandon Cruse

Brandon Cruse enters his third season as a NFL umpire, wearing number 22. Cruse will work on Carl Cheffers’ crew. He worked a Week 2 preseason game last year at the referee position.

Cruse has several years of referee experience, having officiated in the Mountain West and Big 12 conferences as a referee, plus being a referee in the AAF and XFL. Cruse was the referee for the 2021 National Championship Game between Alabama and Ohio State.

Last year Cruse worked a wild-card playoff game in his first season eligible for a playoff. He was then a divisional alternate.

Cruse worked as a referee during the Week 1 preseason game between the Commanders and Jets this season.

Duane Heydt

Duane Heydt is entering his third season as an NFL official at the umpire position, wearing number 42. Last season, in his first season eligible, Heydt was assigned two playoff games — a wild card game on the field and a divisional playoff as an alternate.

Heydt has worked in the USFL and as a referee in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Perhaps his biggest game as a college referee was the 2022 National Championship Game — his last college game before going to the pros.

A member of Brad Allen’s crew, Heydt will work the Colts-Bengals Week 3 preseason game with John Hussey’s crew.

This is the second straight season that these three officials have auditioned for the referee position. While not a guarantee of a white hat, it is a good indicator that the NFL is seriously considering them for a future referee appointment.