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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills: Are Former NFL Referees Now Joining Teams as Officiating Liaisons?

Originally posted on The Forkball | By Jamie Malloy | Last updated 5/23/24

Have the Buffalo Bills found a pioneering role for other teams in the NFL to follow now?

The team announced it would be hiring former NFL referee and ESPN Monday Night rules analyst John Parry to be its Officiating Liaison.

With the state of the current NFL referees making so many subjective calls such as “roughing the passer” and with the unimaginable “hip drop tackle” ban coming this season, the Bills are thinking one step ahead with the hiring of Parry.

Let’s take a look at what the veteran rules expert brings to the team.

Referees Now Joining Teams as Officiating Liaisons

Parry is making NFL history with the potential expansion of referees who are now joining teams as officiating liaisons. He will be the guinea pig for the rest of the NFL.

Before coming to the Bills, Parry was with ESPN as their Monday Night Football rules expert. Before that, the veteran had a long reputation for being one of the more transparent NFL refs.

The 20-year veteran started out as a replay official in 1999. A year later, he was then moved to sideline judge until 2008.

That year, he was promoted to referee, a job he carried until 2018. He worked two Super Bowls (XLVI and LIII).

Before being hired by the Buffalo Bills, Parry was working for Monday Night Football as their Rules Analyst.

How Parry Will Help Out the Team

Parry will join the Bills as an Officiating Liaison. He will advise the team and coaching staff on the NFL rules.

The 59-year-old will also teach the staff all the relevant replay reviews/challenges needed in today’s NFL.

During the 2023 NFL season, the Bills won 50% of their challenges (3-for-6), but since 2017 have only had 10 calls overturned and 23 upheld, per Pro Football Reference.

Other Scouting Hires

The Bills also had their eye on two other area scouts. It was reported that longtime Arizona Cardinals area scout Darius Vinnett would take a job with the Bills.

Vinnett was with the Arizona Cardinals for 11 years and was honored with the 2022 Rod Graves College Scouting Award as the Cardinal’s best scout.

He played professional football in the NFL from 2007-2008 (St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons) and the short-lived UFL from 2009-2012 (Florida Tuskers and Virginia Destroyers).

In addition, the team also acquired Vince Magri. The thirty-four-year-old previously worked as the Assistant General Manager of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.

Prior to that, Magri was a four-year starting offensive lineman at McMaster.

How Will Both Scouts Help the Bills?

Vinnett and Magri bring many skill sets that make them the most qualified scouts for their roles.

They’re both young, so their aspirations to be great scouts will be with the team for a long time.

They’re also former players, giving them a leg up for these jobs.

On top of that, they’re fantastic football scouts and have a reputation for finding the best college talent to come play for the Buffalo Bills.

Conclusion

With the Bills hiring Parry, it will be interesting to see if they win more challenges/turnovers this season.

And with all the new rule changes/challenges coming this season, it will be interesting to see if other teams follow suit and hire an Officiating Liaison, like the Bills.