Walt Anderson’s new officiating role will be as rules analyst, communications liaison

The NFL confirmed Thursday that Walt Anderson is leaving his put up as senior vice chairman of officiating.

Anderson, although, isn’t departing from the NFL.

He will stay with the league as an NFL Rules Analyst & Club Communications Liaison.

“I will focus on communicating with the clubs during the week and with our broadcast partners on gamedays,” Anderson, 71, mentioned in an announcement. “While I will no longer be making officiating decisions, together with a variety of stakeholders I will continue to look for new and better ways to promote excellence in officiating performance. I welcome this challenge and look forward to the opportunity to support the men and women who do such a tremendous job officiating our game at every level.”

Anderson’s departure as the top of officiating allowed the league to rent his son, Derek Anderson, as an on-field official, one thing the league’s human sources division disallowed final yr. The NFL announced the additions of Derek Anderson and 4 different officers on Thursday.

Walt Anderson spent 24 seasons as an NFL official, together with 17 as a referee, earlier than transferring upstairs on the finish of the 2019 season. He was employed to be the league’s senior vice chairman of officiating improvement below Al Riveron and Perry Fewell.

Riveron retired after the 2020 season, resulting in Anderson’s promotion.

During his three seasons on the job, Anderson not often appeared publicly a lot to elucidate calls or non-calls. He did make a shocking look on Monday Night Football final season to elucidate a non-call of roughing the passer in a recreation between the Raiders and the Lions.

Officiating analysts employed by the networks as a substitute supplied a lot of the explaining or second-guessing of rules selections throughout Anderson’s time period.

It will be fascinating to see whether or not Anderson will be extra seen in his new role.