NFL Referee Power Rankings
Most of the referees in the NFL suck ass but some aren’t too bad. Here’s my rankings from the worst to the best.
17. Brad Allen
Brad Allen looks like a boy in middle school who dressed up as their dad. He and his crew had some terrible calls in 2023 like the penalty on Jonathan Owens for his legal hit on Patrick Mahomes and penalizing Taylor Decker for being an ineligible receiver on the two point attempt in the Lions-Cowboys game.
16. Shawn Hochuli
Technically he and Brad Allen are both tied for last. Shawn, like his father, loves him some him. No one calls more penalties at 14.29 per game and this accounts for 128 years per game just in penalties.
15. Clete Blakeman
He does earn some brownie points for screwing over the Patriots on multiple occasions, but he is also one of the people behind #deflategate... and snitches get stiches.
14. Adrian Hill
Thanksgiving in 2021, his crew officiated the Lions and Bears game and while both teams were terrible on their own, he and his crew added to the misery on by calling a combined 15 penalties.
13. Scott Novak
It's one thing to miss a call during live action, but to double down and get it wrong even with replay is unforgivable.
12. Tra Blake
While it is hilarious that he and his crew didn't call the Rams for the obvious facemask of Sam Darnold in the endzone, I would be livid if he missed that type of call against a team I care about.
11. Alan Eck
He's only been a referee for two years so his sample size is pretty small but he did help the Eagles by only flagging the Steelers during their brawl in 2024.
10. Clay Martin
“Gumby” as his colleagues refer to him, does an average job. He’s the Matt Ryan of officiating.
9. Brad Rogers
Brad Rogers sounds like a name you use to hide your real name, so I placed him middle of the pack.
8. Land Clark
Land is a wunderkind, becoming a referee after only 2 years in the league. Ironically, he loves flying and cruises.
7. Shawn Smith
The pride of Ferris State – although close to the league average in penalties called per game, is only 3rd in penalty yards per game. You know what that means; watch the false starts and obliterate the quarterback
6. Craig Wrolstad
Craig wears the same number as the ole gunslinger so that must account for something.
5. Alex Kemp
He understands that when he is announcing a call, he is talking to America.
4. Ron Torbert
Ron is a referee and an attorney which means he has devoted his life to arguing. Ron and team usually let things go and calls a clean game.
3. Carl Cheffers
Carl’s been in the game a long time. Get this, home teams have won 50% of the games he has officiated. Now that’s balance.
2. John Hussey
The legend whose last name means a brazen or immoral woman has the highest home team winning advantage of 64%.
1. Bill Vinovich
The GOAT. Bill is a fine, fine referee. He and his crew called a very clean Super Bowl XLIX and his crew calls the fewest penalties in the league at under 10 per game.