Colts Star Speaks Out on NFL Referees’ Performance
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. shared his thoughts at Radio Row during Super Bowl media day, contributing to the Colts’ presence throughout the week with multiple media appearances.
Earlier in the week, Pittman defended quarterback Anthony Richardson, stating that Richardson is on the right path to becoming the future of the Colts. In a more recent interview, Pittman was asked about the state of NFL officiating following a season marked by controversy.
Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. believes the NFL should use full-time referees:
"I would love to see full-time refs… Most referees have other careers and I feel like the NFL is so big that we could explore that."
More from @MikePitt_Jr's interview with FOS ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 5, 2025
The question arose as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed similar concerns about officiating. There have been claims on social media suggesting that referees favor the Kansas City Chiefs, but Goodell has denied any such claims.
Pittman believes there are ways to improve the situation. One suggestion he made is to make NFL referees full-time employees rather than part-time. He believes this could improve the consistency and quality of officiating by ensuring officials remain focused year-round.
“They have the power to almost—I don’t want to say end somebody’s season, because at the end of the day we control our own destiny—but there’s a lot of influence in calls that are so subjective that could go either way. We need to find ways to reduce the margin of error,” Pittman said in an interview with Front Office Sports.
With the growing amount of money involved in sports betting, Pittman stressed the need for greater accuracy in calls to ensure fairness for everyone involved.
Pittman expressed his desire for full-time referees, a proposal Goodell has considered. However, Goodell seems to place more emphasis on the potential of technological advancements to enhance officiating. Similar to sports like soccer, baseball, and tennis, which have adopted technology to improve the accuracy of calls, the NFL could benefit from tools that help with marking the first down and goal lines. While Pittman is hopeful for improvements, he acknowledges it may take time for these changes to be implemented in the league.
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