ChiefsPlanet - Football Johnson to Become First Full-Time On-Field Game Official

Carl Johnson to Become First Full-Time On-Field Game Official

NFL Vice President of Officiating CARL JOHNSON has agreed to become the NFL’s first full-time on-field game official, beginning next season.

Johnson, who has served in his current position since 2010, will continue to lead the NFL Officiating Department through Super Bowl XLVII.

The new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Referees Association provided the NFL with the opportunity to hire some officials on a full-time basis. Johnson, who will rejoin his family and be based in his home state of Louisiana, will be the first person to serve in this capacity.

“Carl Johnson’s experience on the field and in New York made him uniquely qualified to help implement the new program of a limited number of full-time game officials,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations RAY ANDERSON. “We are confident Carl will do an outstanding job.”

Prior to joining the NFL office as head of officiating, Johnson spent nine seasons officiating NFL games as a line judge, consistently rating as one of the league’s top officials. Johnson worked eight postseason games in his career, including Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, four Divisional Playoff games, two Wild Card games and one Pro Bowl.

In his new role, in addition to being an on-field official at a position to be determined, Johnson and other full-time officials will focus on the training and development of officials, the scouting of potential new officials, facilitating communication with game officials, and assisting the Competition Committee.

“I’m very excited about this new challenge and returning to the field,” Johnson said. “On a personal note, I am very much looking forward to rejoining my wife and son in Louisiana. That is home for me, and having a chance to be based there and to continue my work in an exciting new role is a great opportunity.”

A search for the next head of the NFL Officiating Department will begin in the near future, with Johnson participating in the transition to his replacement.