NFL Reassigns Referee Crew After Controversial Calls

The league moved Alex Moore’s crew from the Sunday night game to a secondary afternoon slot following Week 7 officiating errors.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Football

NFL Reassigns Referee Crew After Controversial Calls

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Should the NFL move officiating crews to avoid public discussion of their past performance?

The NFL has reassigned referee Alex Moore and his crew from the upcoming Sunday night broadcast to a secondary Sunday afternoon game between the Patriots and Dolphins. The decision follows scrutiny over several questionable calls made by the crew during the Packers-Lions game in Week 7.

Why it matters

The change is intended to prevent negative commentary regarding officiating performance during the league's high-visibility prime time broadcast. By shifting the crew to an afternoon game, the NFL aims to maintain focus on the competition rather than the officiating crew's previous decisions.

The reassigned crew will now work the Sunday afternoon game starting at 4:25 p.m. ET, following a previous week where their performance drew criticism. The Sunday night broadcast they were removed from consistently draws a significant audience, recently reaching 24.67 million viewers.

The players

Alex Moore

He is a professional NFL referee who currently leads an officiating crew.

Shawn Hochuli

He is a long-standing NFL referee who leads an officiating crew for the league.

NFL

The National Football League is the premier professional football organization in the United States.

The details

During the Week 7 game between the Packers and the Lions in Detroit, Moore's crew drew criticism for making controversial roughing the passer calls and an illegal hit ruling. Shawn Hochuli’s officiating crew has been selected to take over the responsibilities for the upcoming Sunday night game.

In Week 7, Alex Moore's crew officiated the game between the Packers and the Lions.
On Sunday afternoon, Moore's crew will officiate the game between the Patriots and the Dolphins.
On Sunday night, Shawn Hochuli's crew will work the prime time game.

Season Trajectory

This adjustment reflects the league's commitment to prioritizing officiating accuracy during high-stakes prime time matchups. The move ensures the Sunday night game remains clear of distractions, keeping the competitive balance and focus steady for the remainder of the season.

Viewers watching the Sunday night broadcast will see Shawn Hochuli’s crew manage the game instead of Moore's team. Fans of the Patriots and Dolphins should prepare for the specific officiating style of Moore’s crew during the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.

The takeaway

The NFL prioritizes broadcast quality by proactively adjusting officiating assignments when performance trends fluctuate. Fans can expect the league to continue utilizing these internal management tools to preserve the integrity and focus of its most-watched prime time contests.