If you weren’t already hyped for the Vikings vs Packers matchup, the NFL has given you one more reason to be. Some drama is expected from the game because the officiating referee is none other than Bill Vinovich. The legend has been a referee for two decades now. But even a reputed referee like himself is not free from controversies.

No big career comes without conflict and Vinovich’s path is no different. Not all football fans must be fond of him, and that too, for understandable reasons. However, before jumping into any of these controversies, let’s first take a look at some personal information about the referee that you might be unaware of.

How long has Bill Vinovich worked in the NFL?

The legendary referee first joined the football league back in 2001. This was when he was appointed a side judge. Three years later, based on his talent and experience, he was promoted to the post of referee in 2004. Vinovich hasn’t stepped down from that post since.

His salary is estimated to be around $205,000 to $250,000 a year. If this doesn’t impress you, note that as of 2023, Vinovich’s alleged net worth is somewhere between $1-5 Million.

When he is not on the sidelines, dropping flags, and declaring fouls, Vinovich is a husband and a father of two. He said his vows with Jeanette Vinovich. And despite being married to an NFL referee for 30 years, Jeanette likes her privacy.

Things are exactly the opposite with Bill Vinovich. Spotlight and the referee in question seem to be quite good friends. This is because of the number of questionable calls he has made over the years during different games. One of them was the infamous Saints game in 2018 against the Los Angeles Rams.

The controversial Saints call by the referee

There have been not one, but many controversies in Bill’s 20 years of career as an NFL referee. Holding the position that he has, comes with a huge set of responsibilities. In a way, we can say that a referee can turn the tide around. Well, as it turns out, at times, the tides overwhelmed him.

One of his most famous controversies was the New Orleans game against the Rams in the 2018 NFC Championship. He and his crew failed to call an obvious pass interference infraction by Los Angeles. This resulted in widespread criticism and outrage.

Saints fans didn’t want him officiating another match for their team. Unfortunately, the NFL brought him in again to be the referee during the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Luckily for Orleans viewers, they ended up bagging the victory.

This is not the only call that Bill Vinovich is infamous for. We can’t confirm whether the Vikings vs Packers game will go down without any referee drama. But it will be exciting to see regardless of the outcome.