When NFL refs talk with players and coaches on the field, their conversations, unlike yours at the water cooler, often have nothing to do with football.
For the 22 players and seven officials on the field at any given time, the gridiron is a workplace just like any other and so they chat, gossip, and make small talk just like colleagues at any other place of employment.
Yes, these conversations may take place in front of thousands of fans and millions of TV viewers, but they are pretty normal other than that.
“Sometimes with the officials, it’s like you’re talking to your neighbors,” Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle told the New York Times. “You know, ‘Hey, how’s your family? Did you see that baseball game last night?’”
Weddle also said that officials sometimes get caught up in the action on the field and it’s not uncommon for them to react to a big play during the game.
“A great play is a great play for everybody on the field,” said Philadelphia Eagles offensive guard Brandon Brooks. “The officials see it and say so. We’re together on that.”
Referees will also sometimes engage in “preventative officiating,” essentially letting players know what they can and can’t get away with before a penalty happens so they don’t need to throw a flag.
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