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The NFL decided earlier this offseason to allow replay to be centralized back to the league officers, with Senior Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino and his staff now having final say on all challenges. Except, it will not be Blandino heading the office. On Friday, it was announced via league memo that Blandino is resigning from his position with the league to take a network television position.
Blandino is expected to remain with the league through May before heading to an undisclosed network. Speculation indicates he could be heading to CBS for a role similar to Mike Pereira’s role with FOX. Pereira is also a former Vice President of Officiating for the league.
Blandino joined the league in 1994 as an intern. He left the league in 2009 before returning in 2012. He has held positions as an instant replay official, including work in Super Bowls and conference championship games, and as the director of officiating, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the league’s officiating crews.