The NFL on Wednesday (US time) named the 21 officials it has hired on a full-time basis in an attempt to improve "every aspect of NFL officiating."
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The most recognisable names on the list are the four referees who have been elevated to full-time employees — Walt Anderson, Jerome Boger, Pete Morelli and Brad Allen — but all seven officiating positions are represented.
NFL hires 21 full time officials. Will work year-round pic.twitter.com/jPktx1GMyu
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) September 6, 2017
The remaining 103 officials who will make up the 2017 roster will continue to work on a part-time basis, but the league believes the year-round duties assigned to the full-timers will help raise the level of officiating throughout the league.
“We believe that we will learn a great deal over the course of this initial year working with the full-time game officials,” Alberto Riveron, the league's new senior vice president of officiating, said in a release.
“Our collective goal is to make a positive impact on NFL officiating overall.”
The new NFL season kicks off on Friday morning (AEST), with Super Bowl LI champions, New England, taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in Foxborough.
