Dean Blandino’s name is a familiar one to NFL fans, as he regularly appears on FOX in his role as an NFL rules analyst. However, Blandino never actually held an on-field role as an official for the NFL. Let’s take a look at how Blandino’s career has been shaped to this point and what other roles he has outside of being a rules analyst for FOX.
Dean Blandino’s Career Arc Is an Intriguing One
Blandino’s career is intriguing because it looks much different from a number of other NFL officials. When we think of NFL referees and those who make up officiating crews, we tend to think of the people on the field in their black and white striped shirts. Many of them work their way through high school and college assignments before being hired by the NFL as part-time employees.
That was not the case with Blandino, who was hired by the NFL as an intern straight out of college in 1994 before becoming a full-time employee. In 1999, Blandino was given the responsibility of organizing the NFL’s instant replay department. He ran the department for six years and was selected as the replay official for two Super Bowls and two conference championship games in that time.
In 2009, Blandino set up his own company, which provided training and evaluation of instant replay officials. The company, called “Under the Hood,” worked with the NFL, as well as a number of college football conferences — Big 12, Big Ten, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Pac-12.
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Blandino would return to the NFL in 2012 with the title of director of officiating. By February 2013, he was promoted to the Vice President of Officiating. Blandino would serve in that role until May 2017. Fox Sports then hired him as a rules analyst for NFL and college football coverage.
Alongside working for FOX, Blandino works with various different football leagues. He’s the National Coordinator of Instant Replay for the NCAA. Additionally, Blandino was an officiating consultant for the Alliance of American Football before being hired as the XFL‘s head of officiating.
Blandino has been highly credited for his work in promoting equality in league officiating. Under his leadership, the NFL hired its first female official, Sarah Thomas. After leaving the NFL in 2018, Blandino was the executive producer of a documentary called “Her Turf,” which followed three female football officials as they attempted to level the playing field.
How Much Does an NFL Rules Analyst Make?
While we haven’t had any reports of how much FOX pays their rules analysts, there is a report that Gene Steratore is paid around $95,000 as a rules analyst for CBS. The expectation is that Blandino would earn a similar amount.
However, there are likely variations in those salaries based on the other roles they fill within the company. Blandino’s salary is likely further complicated by his numerous other responsibilities outside of FOX, somewhat limiting the time he spends working for the network.
Did Blandino Play Professional Football?
Blandino did not play professional football prior to working as an NFL official. He played high school football as a tight end at Wellington C. Mepham High School.
What’s Blandino’s Net Worth?
Blandino’s reported net worth is around $1 million. However, this is purely an estimation, with some websites placing his net worth anywhere up to $5 million.