John Parry leaves ESPN – Football Zebras

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Former NFL referee John Parry is leaving his position as a rules analyst for ESPN to take a role as an officiating liaison for an NFL team. Parry had another year left on his contract, but the departure was amicable. A network source said they are just beginning the search for a replacement for Parry.

Parry, in a telephone conversation with Soccer zebras, said his next destination will be announced by the team at some point and didn't want to preempt the announcement. In his new role, he will advise the team's coaching staff on rule issues and replay decisions.

An ESPN spokesman declined to comment.

“Officials see the game very differently than players, coaches and fans,” Parry said. “So, to have someone [in the booth]: Hey, this is the mechanic, that's why this person made this call. And no matter what happens to that rep, if they turn it over, the ball will be spotted here. Here the descent is in the distance. The clock starts in game readiness or there is a 10 second runoff so you can take a time out. So think about it better. Will you take one? You do not want to?”

Parry continued: “There is so much on the shoulders of the coaches, particularly when it comes to replays because it has grown so much and become so complicated. It's difficult to keep track of all this data. And I think there's value in it – I mean, when you work for a team, of course you want to win – but your job is to make sure that they have all the data to make the right decision or the decision you want to make can .”

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Parry joined ESPN in 2019 and was hired immediately after Super Bowl LIII, the third Super Bowl of his career. At that point, ESPN had parted ways with former referee Jeff Triplette, who spent one season there Monday Night Football Stood in a partial on-air role.

“I spent two decades in the NFL. I love them, I love every aspect of what I did on the field. And I think when I was 53, I entered my second decade of office. Had done everything. … I've been in the NFL for two decades and won three Super Bowls and championships and I'm like, “Okay, now what?”

“And I loved it, but it was strange that ESPN reached out after Super Bowl LIII. 'Would you be interested?' ”

Parry began as a replay official in the NFL in 1999, the first season in its current challenge-based system. In 2000 he was promoted to subjudge and in 2008 he was promoted to referee. He worked as a side judge at Super Bowl XLI and as a referee at XLVI and LIII. He is one of seven officials to have worked a Super Bowl at the umpire position after working another Super Bowl at a different field position.

He began officiating at a young age thanks to his father, the venerable David Parry, a Big Ten and NFL official. John Parry remembers his father having groups of NFL officials in his house quizzing each other about rules and mechanics, which he found to be an indispensable guide to the job. The elder Parry later became the Big Ten's officials coordinator and then national coordinator. An award named for David Parry to recognize the professionalism and leadership of conference coordinators in all areas of college football.

John Parry also worked his way up to the NFL via the Big Ten Conference.

A network source said that Parry was very popular and they were disappointed to see him go. Parry had broadly the same feelings about everyone he worked with.

“From top to bottom they were fabulous [ESPN chairman] Jimmy Pitaro all the way to the backend. People who work hard and get the job done Monday Night Football In different cities. My time there was fabulous. I love them all. You treated me well. I was able to work with different personalities, from Joe Tessitore to Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, [Monday Night] countdownand then Joe [Buck] and Troy [Aikman] I just watch them do what they do. They are so good and it was all positive. I mean, I have nothing but glowing appreciation for the show, the system.”

Parry said that while he enjoyed his time at ESPN, there was something he missed from his playing days. He also said that at age 59, he is in the “fourth quarter” of his career.

“Ultimately, I miss being in the game and I hope this provides an opportunity to get back into the arena, experience challenges, wins and losses, all the feelings you have when you do what we do do. With Monday Night Football, it said: Do the show, talk to whoever you need to talk to, and head home. So I'm looking forward to the things outside of the game: preparation, breaking down film, trying to educate players, trying to educate coaches, being in the coaching box, being part of those conversations.”

Parry also said he has had discussions with Walt Anderson, outgoing senior vice president of officiating, about various aspects and interpretations of the new rules adopted by the owners in March, particularly the new kickoff rule.

Did Parry perhaps leave the field too early? Might he have a fourth Super Bowl in the future?

“Yeah, I guess, but that could have happened, but what I preached to my kids, I try to live with the fact that sometimes the easiest decision isn't the best. It would have been easy to stay on the field. I like it there. I was decent at my job. I think I could have continued to compete with the other referees for another Super Bowl. It was all easy.

“When I took on the role of analyst, I thought, 'Wow, this is going to be completely different for me, completely out of my scope.' So there was this/that challenge. Like this. It's just another change, the easy decision would be to stick with it Monday Night FootballKeep doing what I'm doing. I know that I feel comfortable there.

“The [new opportunity] is outside the comfort zone, which is good. Just offer different ways to fuel the fire within, and we’ll see.”