The NFL is a massive business that dominates the sports calendar in the United States from September through January but has proceeded without full-time officials in the past.
That will change, at least in part, during the 2018 season.
Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted the league announced Thursday that 24 of its 122 officials will be full-time employees in 2018.
"In an effort to improve consistency, efficiency and accuracy, the full-time game officials will work throughout the calendar year on game preparation and game administration, analyzing current game trends, communicating with the clubs, and assisting to ensure that there is a qualified pipeline of future officials," the league's statement read.