NFL Officiating: A Family Affair

One of the most egregious flaws in the selection of NFL officials in recent years has been the promotion of family members of both former and current NFL officials. Here is a rundown:

• Allen Baynes (SJ) and Rusty Baynes (LJ): brothers and sons of Ron Baynes, former NFL official and current NFL director of recruiting officials [1]
• Jerry Bergman, Jr. (HL) and Jeff Bergman (LJ): brothers and sons of Jerry Bergman, Sr., a former NFL official [2]
• Mike Carey (R) and Don Carey (BJ): brothers [3]
• Keith Ferguson (BJ): son of Dick Ferguson, former NFL official [4]
• John McGrath (HL): brother of Bobby McGrath, former NFL official and current NFL replay official [5]
• Dana McKenzie (HL): son of Dick McKenzie, former NFL official and former NFL supervisor of officials (part-time) [6]
• Carl Paganelli, Jr. (U), Perry Paganelli (BJ), and Dino Paganelli (BJ): all brothers and sons of Carl Paganelli, Sr., the supervisor of AFL officials [7]
• John Parry (R): son of Dave Parry, former NFL official, former supervisor of officials for the Big 10, and former national Division 1 supervisor for officials [8]
• Jim Quirk, Jr. (FJ): son of Jim Quirk, Sr., former NFL official [9]
• Jeff Rice (U): son of Bob Rice, former NFL official [10]
• Jeff Seeman (LJ): son of Jerry Seeman, former NFL official and former director of NFL officials [11]
• Gene Steratore, Jr. (R) and Tony Steratore (BJ): brothers [12]
• Tony Veteri, Jr. (HL): son of Tony Veteri, Sr., former NFL official and former NFL supervisor of officials [13]

So, to recap, 19 current NFL officials, out of 119 total officials, are the sons or brothers of current or former NFL officials. That is 16% of current officials! I would accept that there might be some instances where sons would succeed fathers into the NFL; however, I have trouble believing that 19 of the best officials in the country just coincidentally have immediate family members who are or were NFL officials, especially when three current officials come from the same family. Even the largest unions in the country (i.e. steel, auto, Teamsters) did not have a percentage like this.

Sources
[1] "Former Tallassee coach earns NFL officials award": http://www.riverregionsports.com/wordpress/?p=11325/ and "Memo shows NFL seeking scouts' help in finding replacement refs": http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-06-06/nfl-referees-lockout-replacement-officials-scouts-help
[2] "It's All Relative": http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108870/index.htm
[3] "It's All Relative": http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108870/index.htm
[4] "San Jose football official works Super Bowl XLIII": http://members4.boardhost.com/spartantalk/msg/1236868145.html
[5] "Hyland's Heroes: Bobby McGrath": http://catholicsportsnet.com/louisville/articles/2012/2/4/hyland-s-heroes--bobby-mcgrath
[6] "Browns notes: Wright's return sends Haden to sideline": http://medinagazette.northcoastnow.com/2010/08/22/browns-notes-wright’s-return-sends-haden-to-sideline/ and "Q&A: Under fire, Mangini opens up about Browns, Quinn, Belichick": http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12493344/qa-under-fire-mangini-opens-up-about-browns-quinn-belichick
[7] "A Herd of Zebras": http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108868/index.htm and "Carl Paganelli Sr. hired as Arena Football League's supervisor of officials": http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/01/carl_paganelli_sr_hired_as_are.html
[8] "John Parry loves being an NFL official": http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/article_4cc78297-e1fb-5d5f-9594-f4f61c0930a5.html
[9] "It's the Super Bowl for officials, too--Rumson's Jim Quirk knows it well": http://trtnj.com/featured/its-the-super-bowl-for-officials-too-rumsons-jim-quirk-knows-it-well/
[10] "Snap judgment": http://www.review.net/section/detail/snap-judgment/; his father's name came from a current football official
[11] "It's All Relative": http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108870/index.htm
[12] "It's All Relative": http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1108870/index.htm
[13] "Flag The Official Boomer Wants Justice": http://articles.nydailynews.com/1995-10-12/sports/17990165_1_whistle-tony-veteri-official-s-fault