Roger Goodell’s NFL Rumored to Hire SB LVIII Referee for “The Job That No One Wants” Following Walt Anderson’s Announcement

NFL’s senior VP of officiating, Walt Anderson, is finally retiring, and the league is looking for his replacement. Anderson is only the fourth official to have held on to the title for so long (4+ years). Initially, he wasn’t hired to be a long-time SVP of the officiating department. Anderson was looked at as an SVP to be a part of a triumvirate leadership with Al Riveron and Perry Fewell.

As time progressed, Riveron gave up his position in 2020 and Anderson took over after him. Walt Anderson has officiated the Super Bowl twice, but now, he is rumored to remain in the department to oversee replay operations, with nothing finalized yet. A couple of sources including Ari Meirov and Football Zebras speculate who will take after him in the future, with no clear undisputed replacement in view.

Per sources, Bill Vinovich, who just officiated the SB LVIII might be a suitable candidate for the job. Vinovich has had a notorious background as a stern referee in the past. It is to be noted that in the last 6 postseasons, Vinovich has earned 5 top-tier assignments including championship games and Super Bowl.

He started officiating in 2001 and went on till 2006. The 63-year-old went on a hiatus from 2006 for 5 years but came back solid in 2012. While his name surrounds the discussion for the position, it remains a notable fact that the title of SVP has been dubbed in the league as “the job that no one wants.”

But there is one other prospect among many that we should keep an eye out for. It’s Derek Anderson, Walt’s son. According to sources, the son was a top-ranked NFL recruit in 2023, but the HR ruled that he couldn’t report to his own father, and he was ruled out. Derek is a Big 12 referee and might be next in line to take his father’s place. He also boasts the experience of refereeing USFL games in the past.

But these two names aren’t the only ones that might be fit for the job. Football Zebras pointed out some other names as well.

Other prospects for the SVP position

Another official who goes by the name of Eugene Hall has become a hot name for the position. He has the experience of officiating 3 Super Bowls. He is also an IRS investigator along with his officiating job. A Forbes interview noted that Hall “owns up to bigger ambitions — like becoming a supervisor and ultimately a vice-president of officiating at the NFL.” Well, his ambitions might come true soon!

Garth DeFelice is another name to be considered for the job. He had a 16-year NFL run and retired in 2013 and became a regional supervisor and heads the coaching of the umpire position. He is known for his contributions to “roughing the passer” play, a stern demeanor, and a low tolerance for disrespect. A perfect choice for the position.

What is your choice for the position? Let us know below.