By Tony Softli

The NFL released its roster of game officials for the 2017 season Thursday (June 29^th) which included eight first-year NFL officials in the field of 124.

Per NFL Communications “Line judge Brain Bolinger (Big Ten), line judge Mike Carr (Big Ten), side judge Ryan Dickson (Pac-12), down judge David Oliver (SEC), field judge Mearle Robinson (Pac-12), field judge Brad Rogers (SEC), line judge Danny Short (ACC), and umpire Steve Woods (Big Ten) will make their NFL officiating debuts this season.

All 17 referees from 2016 will return in 2017 and lead seven-person on-field officiating crews, led by the dean of NFL officials, Walt Coleman, who enters his 29th season”.

The NFL has assigned a instant replay official to work as part of the officiating crews, including the first female replay official in League History her name is Terri Valenti.  She is a current employee in instant replay for the NFL for the past five years holding the tile of communicator and replay assistant prior to her promotion.  Her background also includes officiating high school, collegiate and professional level of competition (Arena Football League, United Football League, International football leagues).

The NFL also announced that twelve officials will rotate to new positions in 2017.  This change is an effort to build strength within the crews as well as balance.  The goal is to ensure there are now weak links in the chain.

One change is in effect this year as well, the position known as “head linesman” will now be called “down judge” beginning in 2017.  The down judge will ensure the correct down and distance.

Three sets of fathers and sons make up the 2017 roster as well.  Walt Coleman/Walt IV; Ed Hochuli/Shawn; Steve Freeman/Brad;

Four sets of brothers are included in the roster build; Allen and Rusty Baynes; Jeff and Jerry Bergman; Carl, Dino and Perry Paganelli; Gene and Tony Steratore.

Two former NFL players now officials round out the roster in Steve Freeman and Phil McKinnely.

The 2017 NFL roster of officials grid below also includes crew assignments, schedule conflicts, etc

*Denotes new position for 2017

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Football Zebras has obtained the officiating crew rosters for the 2017 NFL season. This season, there are 8 new officials to replace officials that retired or were moved up to the league office. There are five veteran officials designated as swing officials, matching last season’s record-level bench. The swing officials will move between crews through the season, and include include two umpires, two line-of-scrimmage officials, and a deep wing. Umpire Bill Schuster once again is listed as a swing official, however last season he was moved to a crew in preseason to replace an injured official. Head linesman Jim Howey is in his third stint as a swing official, having previously been one in 2011 due to an injury and continuing into 2012.

For the second consecutive season, there are no new “white hats,” as everyone from the referee position remains. Four crew chiefs were added from 2014-15.

This season, the NFL has renamed the head linesman position to down judge, in deference to use a gender-neutral term.

Crew members are listed with their years of NFL experience, including the upcoming season, the crews they were on last season, the college attended, and occupations. A replay official is assigned to each crew, but the replay assistant is assigned to the stadium, much like the chain crews and clock operators.

Veteran officials who have changed positions from last season are indicated at the bottom of each crew list.

*indicates an official who is on the same crew as last season.