Brad Allen

For the English footballer, see Bradley Allen. For the Australian martial artist, see Brad Allan.

Brad Allen is an American professional football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2014 NFL season, wearing uniform number 122.

Brad Allen
Born	Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	UNC Pembroke
Occupation	NFL official (2014–present)

Career

A native of Lumberton, North Carolina (and a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, formerly Pembroke State University), Allen began officiating football games at the high school, and later, ACC, levels. When he made his NFL officiating debut in 2014, he was originally going to be an umpire, but when long-time referee Mike Carey announced his retirement on June 24, 2014, Allen was given the referee position instead; this was the first time since 1962 that an NFL official in his first year of officiating was given that honor (Tommy Bell was the last NFL official to do so).

He called the 2007 Motor City Bowl, the 2009 International Bowl, the 2012 Rose Bowl and the 2014 Sugar Bowl.

During the 2023 season, he drew widespread attention when the officiating crew he led made a number of questionable calls. Most infamously, on December 30 in a Detroit Lions game against the Dallas Cowboys, his crew nullified a Detroit 2-point conversion in the game's final minute, as Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who made the two-point conversion, was flagged for illegal touching. After the game, a video was released showing Decker telling Allen that he was an eligible receiver, however, Allen stated that it was Dan Skipper who reported, as the latter made a hand gesture. Skipper later denied reporting to Allen as an eligible receiver. It ultimately led to Detroit losing the game to the Cowboys. The penalty was abhorred by both Lions fans and the media. That, and several other controversial calls during the 2023-24 season, led the NFL to downgrade the crew and prevent them from officiating playoff games.

Personal life

Outside of officiating NFL games, Allen is executive director of the N.C. Senior Games, and the CEO of a non-profit. He also serves as clinic leader and booking supervisor for the Southern Officials Association.

2024 Crew

Source:

• R: Brad Allen
• U: Duane Heydt
• DJ: Sarah Thomas
• LJ: Walter Flowers
• FJ: Rick Patterson
• SJ: Chad Hill
• BJ: Tyree Walton
• RO: Kevin Brown
• RA: Durwood Manley

Statistics

						Totals						League Averages
Year	G	G plyf	Pos	Home	Visitor	Home%	HWin%	Tot	Yds	Pen/G	Yds/G	Home%	HWin%	Pen/G	Yds/G
2014	15	0	Referee	65	103	38.69%	0.40%	168	1388	11.2	92.53	48.41%	0.57%	13.21	110.68
2015	15	0	Referee	85	101	45.70%	0.33%	186	1494	12.4	99.6	49.16%	0.54%	13.75	117.11
2016	16	1	Referee	131	125	51.17%	0.63%	256	2218	16	138.63	48.68%	0.58%	13.33	114.94
2017	16	1	Referee	79	112	41.36%	0.69%	191	1626	11.94	101.63	47.84%	0.57%	13.2	114.62
2018	15	0	Referee	91	91	50.00%	0.53%	182	1511	12.13	100.73	49.03%	0.59%	13.37	113.84
2019	15	0	Referee	101	99	50.50%	0.67%	200	1688	13.33	112.53	47.44%	0.52%	13.37	113.41
2020	16	1	Referee	84	83	50.30%	0.56%	167	1473	10.44	92.06	48.28%	0.50%	11.11	95.95