The NFL seems to have an officiating problem on its hands. Fans are demanding that the league hold its officials and referees accountable for their mistakes, but the league and referees’ union have, for the most part, shielded officials from any major consequences.
However, the league showed a willingness earlier this year to hold referees to account, making the decision to fire three officials and return them to the collegiate level for not meeting league standards.
Pro Football Talk reported in April that the league fired Second-year umpire James Carter, third-year line judge Robin DeLorenzo, and first-year down judge Robert Richeson, and returned them to the Power Four conferences in the NCAA.
Now, league commissioner Roger Goodell is turning to AI to see how it can help ensure that future referees perform at the highest level, according to one prominent league insider.
“Roger Goodell told reporters that the NFL is looking into how AI might be able to help out officiating in the future,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“This insane Ai push into EVERYTHING is beyond the point of ridiculous. If the Niners lose because AI says Brendel had a false start I might stop watching football forever,” one fan wrote on Twitte.
“Bills lose to the Chiefs in the AFC championship because ChatGPT says Josh Allen didn’t cross the plane,” someone else added.
“You mean rig calls even further by AI imagery and videos that will justify league calls when they call down. Entering extremely dangerous territory for fans and gamblers. Going to be more WWE than ever before. We see what you are doing,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see what the league finds on how AI can be incorporated.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.