Alex Moore promoted to referee, Tra Blake returning to umpire position

Football Zebras exclusive

Football Zebras has learned that umpire Alex Moore, who will begin his fourth NFL season in 2025, has been promoted to the referee position. Additionally, referee Tra Blake, entering his sixth season, will return to the umpire position.

It is unclear at this time if Moore will inherit Blake’s crew. Crew assignments are released to the officials in May.

In his journey to the NFL, Moore broke into the Football Bowl Subdivision level in the American Athletic Conference. Former NFL referee and current NBC Sports rules analyst Terry McAulay was the conference officiating coordinator.

“I was thrilled when I heard about Alex moving to referee,” McAulay told Football Zebras. “I saw him at a camp in Houston as a side judge and hired him soon thereafter. He had all the basic skills I like to see and was recommended highly by Harold Mitchell.” Mitchell was the coordinator of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at the time.

McAulay said that he recognized at the time Moore has the tools to be a successful NFL referee. “He proved highly coachable and extremely focused. He handled adversity, such as downgrades, well and clearly had the mental toughness required to be successful.”

Prior to being hired by the NFL in 2022, Moore moved to the SEC where he was a side judge and referee. Some of his most high-profile games in the college ranks were the 2018 Rose Bowl, the 2019 Alamo Bowl, and the 2021 Iron Bowl. He was also the referee for the 2021 Fenway Bowl.

“When the SEC moved him to referee,” McAulay said, “I worked with him through his first year and he once again proved he was very coachable and adapted quickly. I have no doubt he will do great at his new position.”

He also worked in the USFL as a referee, and officiated the revival league’s inaugural championship game. Moore had the opportunity to tryout as a referee twice, during the preseason Week 1, 2023 game between the Packers and Bengals and the preseason Week 2, 2024 game between the Eagles and Patriots.

Moore was the umpire for the 2023 Divisional Playoff between the Buccaneers and Lions in Detroit. He was ineligible to work a postseason game in his rookie season, and he missed the playoffs last year after tearing his hamstring while attempting to break up a skirmish in a Week 18 game in Arizona. Blake did not receive any playoff assignments — on-field or alternate — in his two eligible seasons.

Blake becomes the 12th referee in the Super Bowl-era to be reassigned to a different position on the field.

Referees who moved to other positions, 1966-present

This list includes all referees that moved to another field position with varying reasons, some of them at the option of the referee. For instance, Luckett wanted to remove his referee duties so he could focus on charitable work, and Don Carey was a one-year interim assignment. Notably, Dreith was not demoted due to performance, but due to his age.

Ben Austro contributed to this report.