The NFL has taken the unusual step of demoting some in-game officials for poor performances during the 2024 season. According to Ben Austro of Football Zebras, the league dismissed three officials, who are returning to the college ranks to try and work their way back to the NFL.
All three are recent hires and not holding referee positions.
The three officials that the NFL has placed back into the Power 5 conferences are second-year umpire James Carter, third-year line judge Robin DeLorenzo, and first-year down judge Robert Richeson. Carter was an alternate official in the wild card round last season, but due to multiple injuries at the position, that may have been a necessity. DeLorenzo did not qualify for a postseason game in her two eligible seasons. Richeson was not playoff eligible as he was only in his first season.
Austro notes that the NFL took the unusual step of ensuring that the dismissed officials return into the league's officiating development program, something that isn't typically done. The relegation to the college ranks means the dismissed trio will not file any grievances with the officiating union, per Austro.
DiLorenzo was on referee Carl Cheffers' crew, while Richeson worked under Alex Kemp. Carter was the umpire for referee Clay Martin. None of those crews worked any Lions games after Week 8.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL relegates 3 officials back to college after poor performances
