Well, this is a first.
In a surprising and unprecedented move, the NFL has reportedly fired three officials from its ranks — but instead of simply showing them the door, the league is sending them back to college football.
Yep, according to a report from Ben Austro at Football Zebras, the NFL didn’t just cut ties with second-year umpire James Carter, third-year line judge Robin DeLorenzo, and first-year down judge Robert Richeson — they’re also reportedly being placed in power conferences in the NCAA.
Why They Were Let Go
According to NBC Sports, each of the three officials had different levels of postseason experience — or lack thereof:
- James Carter served as an alternate official during the Wild Card round last season, only stepping up after a string of injuries at his position.
- Robin DeLorenzo, one of the few female officials in the NFL, didn’t qualify for a postseason assignment in either of her two seasons.
- Robert Richeson, a rookie in 2024, wasn’t playoff-eligible at all due to his status.
While none of the three had a disastrous tenure, it appears the league simply didn’t see enough progress or consistency to warrant keeping them on.
What’s Next? Back to College Football
The real twist here is that rather than being left to figure things out on their own, the NFL reportedly helped arrange for the trio to return to officiating — in major college football conferences, no less.
The exact conferences haven’t been named, and it’s not clear whether this transition back to college is temporary, a stepping stone for eventual NFL re-entry, or just the end of the line at the pro level.
What also stands out is that this move allows the officials to avoid going through the usual NFL Referees Association union grievance process. By accepting the college reassignment, they’ve sidestepped all that red tape.
No Comment from the NFL
As expected, the league isn’t offering much insight into the decision. Requests for comment from all three officials, NFLRA executive director Scott Green, VP of officiating Ramon George, and a league spokesperson either went unanswered or were declined.
