NFL referee assignments: Meet the crews working 2026 divisional playoff games

NFL referees have been under fire throughout the 2025–26 season. It has often felt as though officials were deciding games, leaving fans around the league calling for reform this offseason.

While a controversial call in the regular season can go viral, a missed or questionable call in the playoffs can result in a team being eliminated from contention. The importance of accuracy grows with each round, and the NFL strives to assign its best officiating crews to the biggest matchups.

With four games on the Divisional Round schedule, four different officiating crews have been assigned. None of those crews worked a game during the Wild Card round last weekend.

Here is more on the referees for the 2026 NFL Divisional Round games.

MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:

Referees for NFL Divisional RoundBills-BroncosPositionRefereeReferee/Crew ChiefCarl CheffersUmpireMark PellisDown JudgeJerod PhillipsLine JudgeRusty BaynesField JudgeJabir WalkerSide JudgeAllen BaynesBack JudgeScott Helverson49ers-SeahawksPositionRefereeReferee/Crew ChiefJohn Hussey                                                      UmpireRoy EllisonDown JudgeDanny ShortLine JudgeTim PodrazaField JudgeNate JonesSide JudgeBoris CheekBack JudgeMartin HankinsTexans-PatriotsPositionRefereeReferee/Crew ChiefShawn SmithUmpireScott Walker.                                                     Down JudgeDana McKenzieLine JudgeJulian MappField JudgeJason LedetSide JudgeEugene HallBack JudgeGrantis BellRams-BearsPositionRefereeReferee/Crew ChiefShawn Hochuli                                                 UmpireBryan NealeDown JudgePatrick HoltLine JudgeBrian PerryField JudgeAnthony FlemmingSide JudgeChad HillBack JudgeGreg SteedNFL officials’ on-field responsibilities PositionPrimary Location & FocusReferee10-12 yards deep in the offensive backfield. Wears the distinctive white hat.Umpire10-12 yards deep in the offensive backfield, near the Referee.Down JudgeOn the sideline, directly on the LOS. Works opposite the Line Judge.Line JudgeOn the sideline, directly on the LOS. Works opposite the Down Judge.Field Judge20 yards deep in the defensive backfield, on the same side as the Line Judge.Side Judge20 yards deep in the defensive backfield, on the same side as the Down Judge.Back Judge25 yards deep in the defensive backfield, usually near the tight end side.

The Crew Chiefs: The Referee is the final authority on all rulings, acting as the crew chief and focusing primarily on the quarterback (monitoring for roughing the passer and intentional grounding). The Umpire is focused on the interior linemen, watching for offensive holding and illegal blocks at the line of scrimmage, in addition to checking player equipment and counting offensive players.

The Sideline & Clock Monitors: The Down Judge and Line Judge patrol opposite sidelines, ensuring players are not offsides or encroaching and ruling on forward progress. The Down Judge also directs the chain crew. Deeper in the secondary, the Field Judge and Side Judge are positioned 20 yards off the line. They mirror each other, watching the widest receivers for pass interference and illegal contact, and marking plays that go out of bounds. The Field Judge is responsible for the 25-second play clock, while the Side Judge serves as the backup game clock operator.

The Deep Central Monitor: The Back Judge stands the deepest, typically focusing on the area between the safeties. Their central responsibilities include tracking the 40/25-second play clock, ruling on the validity of catches in the deep middle, and watching for action around the end zone and goalposts.