The NFL reassigned three officials for Week 10 games after a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop disrupted travel plans. The unexpected FAA order, issued on Friday due to a temporary telecommunications outage affecting air traffic control, forced the league to rearrange officiating crews to ensure games could proceed as scheduled.
Barry Anderson, Duane Heydt, and Don Willard, all normally umpires or side judges, were promoted to referee duties on Sunday. Anderson will oversee the Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans game in Tennessee, Heydt is assigned to the Carolina Panthers-New Orleans Saints matchup in New Orleans, and Willard is set to referee two games: the Miami Dolphins-Indianapolis Colts game in Indianapolis at 1 p.m. ET and then travel to Cincinnati for the Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers game at 8:20 p.m. ET.
The NFL explained that each of its 17 officiating crews has a backup referee who trains throughout the year to step in when needed. This system allowed the league to swiftly adjust assignments based on officials’ proximity to game locations, as travel by air was severely limited.
The FAA ground stop was the second nationwide halt since 9/11, following a similar event in 2023. The FAA lifted the stop at 8:15 p.m. ET on Friday, but the disruption caused knock-on effects for weekend sports schedules. Several college football games experienced kickoff changes or postponements. For example, the SEC game between Ole Miss and Oklahoma was pushed back to Sunday.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned on Friday that the resumption of nationwide air travel would be slow. The FAA said the grounding resulted from a telecommunications outage that affected the NOTAM system, which pilots rely on for flight hazard information and restrictions.
The NFL’s decision to reassign officials by travel distance avoided delays or cancellations despite the air travel challenges. Don Willard’s double-duty on Sunday highlights the pressure on officials to cover multiple games within tight timelines.
This week’s adjustments come as the NFL continues its preseason and regular-season schedule amid unpredictable external factors. The league’s contingency plan for backup referees has proven effective in maintaining the integrity of officiating despite the FAA’s disruption.
According to Yahoo Sports.
