NFL Reassigns Backup Referees to Week 10 Games Within Driving Distance

Three backup referees will lead crews on Sunday as the NFL reassigns officials to games within driving distance of their homes.

The NFL has reassigned officiating crews for Week 10 domestic games to locations within driving distance of their hometowns following a Friday FAA ground stop. This adjustment comes as airlines attempt to recover from a technology-related communications failure that canceled more than 2,000 flights and marked the longest nationwide stoppage in 25 years. According to ESPN, three backup officials will serve as referees on Sunday: umpires Barry Anderson and Duane Heydt, and side judge Don Willard.

Don Willard is scheduled for double-duty on Sunday, starting with the Miami-Indianapolis game at 1 p.m. ET. Following that contest, Willard will travel approximately 110 miles to serve as the referee for the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game at 8:20 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Duane Heydt will lead the crew for the Carolina-New Orleans matchup, and Barry Anderson will officiate the Jacksonville-Tennessee game.

Each of the league's 17 officiating crews maintains an identified backup referee who trains year-round for the position. The FAA disruption, which caused intermittent radar gaps, was only the second such nationwide stop since September 11, 2001. These logistical changes were implemented to mitigate travel issues for professional and college sports teams stranded by the ripple effects of the aviation delays.