5 officiating observations for the 2024 season

We are a week into the off season. The confetti is swept off the Superdome floor and now is a good time to reflect on the 2024 NFL season from an officiating standpoint.

1. The hip drop tackle rule was a nothing burger.

For 2024, the NFL banned the hip-drop tackle. The hip-drop tackle happens very quickly and three elements have to present in order for it to be an illegal hip-drop. I opined that this could get ugly as it is a very difficult play to officiate.

Thankfully the NFL decided to fine players for the move, instead of making the official make that very difficult call. As a result, the game officials were able to call the game and the NFL front office fined players for the hip-drop.

2. Dynamic kickoff rule: success or failure?

The NFL kickoff changed dramatically in 2024 as the NFL copied the XFL’s Dynamic Kickoff. Statistics note the most dangerous play in the NFL is the kickoff, where the kicking team tries to smash through the receivers blocking, with most moving at full speed.

With new touchback rules, new terms like “landing zones” and the end of the surprise onside kick, the new rule made for a different look during the season. The NFL hoped the new kickoff rule would be safer and cause more kick returns. But the teams felt it was be safer and easier just to kick the ball into the end zone and take the touchback.

Look for the NFL to address the onside kick aspect of this rule. Under the 2024 rules, the trailing team can only onside kick in the fourth quarter. In Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs, trailing badly in the third quarter, may have wanted to try an onside kick.

3. Ejection statistics holding steady.

In 2024, NFL officials ejected 17 players – the same number as in 2023. Officials hate to eject players and fans don’t show up to see officials give players the gate. 17 ejections, while the same as last year, show a downward trend. Five years ago, ejections were in the 20s.

All ejections this year were for fighting or picking up a second unsportsmanlike conduct foul. Thankfully there were no fouls against officials.

4. Speaking of ejections…..

At the NCAA level, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes was ejected by referee Kevin Boitman’s Big 12 crew this season for picking up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. In 2021, two mid-major coaches were ejected for picking up two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Dykes is the first Power 5 coach to get tossed out of a game.

Dykes earned his ejection and kudos to the Boitman crew for following through and issuing the consequence.

5. Too many umpires injured.

Late in the season three umpires, Carl Paganelli, Alex Moore and Bruce Stritesky, had to miss time due to injury: Paganelli due to a freak collision on a ball relay, Moore due to getting tangled up in a late season fight in Arizona, and Stritesky for some unknown issue. That stretched the umpire position thin for the playoffs.

We hope all three officials recover and are back on the field this fall.

Now, into the offseason

The NFL is now in the “dark period” in relation to the officials. The NFL does not communicate with the officials — allowing the officials to concentrate on their day jobs.

If there are any retirements, the NFL will go about the business of hiring new officials which usually happens in late March or early April. We have not gotten any word about retiring officials so we’ll have to wait and see.

May 15 is the officiating new year where the NFL starts communicating with officials and new crews are announced.

The UFL will have tide us over this spring and the Canadian Football League will build a bridge to the NFL season.

Football Zebras will be here to report on rules changes at the end of March and other officiating news. July 31 and the Hall of Fame Game will be here before we know it!