Dean Blandino plans to rejoin the XFL when the league returns to action in 2023.
The XFL announced Tuesday that Blandino will return as the vice president of officiating and playing rules innovation. He was in charge of NFL officiating from 2013-17 and also worked as an NFL and college football rules analyst for Fox Sports.
“Football is a dynamic and ever evolving sport with increasing global appeal. From my time in the NFL through to the XFL, my focus has always been on bringing forward ideas and structure that can continue to support the game we love and allow it to grow into the future. Football is my passion and it’s an exciting time to be a part of the XFL as they build a dynamic game that will appeal to fans and players,” Blandino said in a statement. “I was thrilled to join the league initially in 2019 and happy to be back alongside this incredible ownership and leadership group as we gear up for 2023.”
Per the XFL, Blandino is expected to oversee officiating operations and develop innovative rules to achieve the league’s goal of producing dynamic gameplay.
“Dean is a true leader in the industry and has a passion for advancing and enhancing the game of football. His experience and creativity is unmatched, and we firmly believe that he will elevate our league to a new level,” said Dany Garcia, co-owner and chairwoman of the XFL. “Together, with our ownership group and leadership team, we are building something remarkable. The momentum continues to accelerate and we’re just getting started.”
–Field Level Media