In December, the NFL announced that its vice president of officiating, Carl Johnson, would be leaving his desk to become the league's first full-time official. On Thursday, the league announced his replacement, naming Dean Blandino the new vice president of officiating.
Blandino has worked in the officiating department for 15 years and has served as the director of the league's instant-replay program.
“Dean has been in football officiating for the past 20 years and has made it his life,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He is highly respected by our game officials and coaches for his deep and thorough knowledge of the rules.
"Dean is well-positioned to lead our officiating team and ensure the integrity and continued improvement of NFL officiating."
Blandino began working for the NFL in 1994 as an officiating intern, eventually working his way up to director of officiating, which put him directly under then vice president of officiating (now Fox Sports analyst) Mike Pereira.
In 2009, Blandino left the NFL to begin his own company, "Under the Hood," which helped to train replay officials. He returned to the NFL in 2012, again as director of officiating.
His latest promotion puts him squarely under Ray Anderson, executive vice president of football operations, and in charge of the officiating department.
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