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How many referees are in an NFL game?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 20, 2026

Football Official

An official is responsible for interpreting the rules of the game and enforcing them on the football field. Because of the size of a football field and the number of players on the field at once, there are seven referees for one game. The seven officials in an NFL game include: The Referee.

How many NFL refs are there per game?

College football and the NFL use seven different officials to monitor the game. In high school football there are generally five officials, while youth leagues and middle school will typically use three officials at a game.

How many referee are there in a game?

In a standard professional soccer fixture there are a total of 4 officials, consisting of a head referee who judges on-field events, two assistant referees situated on either side of the touchline who mainly assess whether the ball has left the field of play and make offside calls, as well as a fourth official – ...

What are the 7 officials in football?

American football officials are commonly referred to as referees, but each has a title based on their position. They consist of: Referee, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Umpire, Back Judge, Side Judge, and Field Judge.

How many VAR referees are there?

Other match officials (two assistant referees, fourth official, two additional assistant referees, reserve assistant referee, video assistant referee (VAR) and at least one assistant VAR (AVAR)) may be appointed to matches.

39 related questions found

How much does a NFL Waterboy make?

On average, NFL waterboys make $53,000 per year (according to Stack.com). However, that's just the salary for beginners. For professionals, their salary can be higher as any other highest paid NFL waterboy.

What is the highest paid NFL referee?

Who is the Highest Paid NFL Referee? Walt Anderson and Brad Allen were the two NFL referees with the highest reported salaries for the 2020-2021 season, with Sarah Thomas earning the most as a female referee.

How much do refs make in Super Bowl?

More pressure, more pay

The NFL has not freely given out the figures, but according to the most recent reports, referees were estimated to bring in between $30,000 and $50,000 for officiating in the big game in 2018, so it is likely that this rate has gone up or at least is in this ballpark for Super Bowl LVI.

What is the highest paid referee?

Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season.

How much does a NFL ball boy make?

How much does a Ball Boy make? As of May 4, 2022, the average annual pay for a Ball Boy in the United States is $36,345 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $17.47 an hour.

What football position gets paid the most?

NFL's highest paid players by position (average annual salary):

  • Quarterback: Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers - $50.3 million.
  • Wide receiver: Miami Dolphins' Tyreek Hill - $30 million.
  • Edge rusher: Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. ...
  • Offensive lineman: San Francisco 49ers' Trent Williams - $23.01 million.

What is Sarah Thomas salary?

Sarah Thomas is the highest paid female referee bringing in close to $250,000 per year as an NFL official.

Do NFL referees pay for travel expenses?

Do NFL refs Pay Their Own Travel Expenses? Since referees have to spend a lot of time traveling to games throughout the NFL season, they do receive a stipend to cover their travel expenses, but the amount of the stipend is not publicly available.

Is NFL referee a full time job?

In many ways, it takes a lot to be a referee, and it's not even a full-time job. They don't receive days off or get any company health insurance. The NFL also requires them to be physically fit, know the rules and travel to games.

How much do NFL yard markers make?

Chain crew members make around $100 dollars per game, but since they are employees of the team and not the league, payment is not standardized.

How much does an NFL Water Girl make?

How much does an NFL waterboy make? The typical starting salary for a waterboy is $53,000 per year according to stack.com.

How much does a NFL cheerleader make?

According to information from various data sources, the average NFL cheerleader salary is $150 per game day. They also receive about $50 – $75 for one public appearance. The cheerleaders' job is more like performing. To get those sexy and hot performances, they had to go through a lot of things.

What do refs do during halftime?

At halftime, officials are given the opportunity to communicate in the privacy of the locker room and take time to discuss the events of the first half. The officials can also use that time to refocus and concentrate on making the second half of the game even better.

Do referees get free tickets?

All free game tickets, signed items such as sneakers, and first-class flights to the games are among the perks. Referees in the NBA are also compensated well, with good medical insurance and retirement plans.

Do NFL referees get free tickets?

Community service is encouraged by the NFL. Some referees are given free game tickets to use as incentives for the children they work with during community-centered activities.

How much do ACC football refs make?

The salaries of College Football Referees in the US range from $11,753 to $314,406 , with a median salary of $57,014 . The middle 57% of College Football Referees makes between $57,015 and $142,490, with the top 86% making $314,406.

Why are NFL referees growing beards?

But, this year the NFL relaxed facial hair standards and allowed officials to grow a beard for No Shave November, or “Movember.” Movember is a movement where men don't shave for a month to raise funds for, and bring awareness to, men's health issues and suicide prevention.

Who is the 2nd highest paid NFL player?

NFL's highest-paid players 2022

  • Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. Annual salary: $50.3 million. ...
  • Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs. Annual salary: $45 million. ...
  • Josh Allen, QB, Bills. Annual salary: $43 million. ...
  • Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys. ...
  • Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans. ...
  • Russell Wilson, QB, Broncos. ...
  • Jared Goff, QB, Lions. ...
  • Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings.

What is the least paid position in the NFL?

The actual lowest paid position changes slightly each year as contracts change, but these three are always the among the lowest: fullback, tight end and long snapper. The current position earning the least pay is the fullback, with a median income of $616,000. Why is this position the lowest paid?