NFL to hire 11 new officials before 2014 season
The NFL has had nine refs retire this offseason. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
The NFL is looking to fill eleven vacancies for referees this offseason, the most in a single year since 15 were hired in 2002, according to Mark Schultz and Ben Austro of FootballZebras.com.
Nine officials have retired since the season ended, with umpire Joe DeFelice being moved into a regional supervisor post with the league and back judge Billy Smith becoming a replay official.
The NFL has hired only seven new officials over the course of the last three seasons, and usually has 119 on-field officials on staff.
