Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has appointed former NFL official John Parry to his staff as an officiating liaison to help with red challenge flag decisions. This move was confirmed by a person briefed on the matter, although the team has not yet made an official announcement. The hiring of Parry makes the Bills one of the first NFL teams to have a former official on their staff.
Parry brings 19 years of experience as an NFL official to his new role. He spent 12 of those years as a referee before retiring after working his third Super Bowl at the end of the 2018 season. Following his officiating career, Parry spent five years as a rules analyst for ESPN. This appointment fills a new role for the Bills and McDermott, who is preparing for his eighth season as head coach.
McDermott’s success rate with challenges has been mixed, overturning just 10 out of 33 plays overall, including playoffs. With Parry’s expertise in the rules of the game, he can provide valuable insight in making better challenge decisions. His knowledge can also be useful in time management situations late in games, advising on when to call timeouts and handling penalties.
The addition of Parry to the staff comes after McDermott was named to the NFL rules committee in March. This shows the Bills’ commitment to having a deeper understanding of the rules and officiating decisions to help them on the field. With Parry’s experience and insight, the Bills hope to improve their decision-making when it comes to red challenge flag situations.
