NFL Officiating Observatory
CREW CHIEF PROFILE
Bill Vinovich: NFL referee penalty stats (2026)
Bill Vinovich is an NFL referee (crew chief). In 2026, games his crew has worked average 13.7 accepted penalties over 6 games, 7% below the league's 14.7. Across 2015–25 his crew averaged 11.0 per game (171 games), a let them play style: fewer flags, smaller calls.
Calling style
Career (2015–25): Let them play, fewer flags, smaller calls. 2026 so far: Let them play.
- More pre-snap fouls: 40% of flags (league 35%)
- Calls fewer offensive holding: 26% below the league rate
- Calls fewer roughing the passer: 50% below the league rate
- Calls fewer illegal block above the waist: 26% below the league rate
Calls most like: John Hussey, Clay Martin.
Penalty types vs the league (2015–25, season-adjusted, per game)
| Penalty | Per game | vs league rate |
|---|---|---|
| Roughing the Passer | 0.20 | -50% |
| Offensive Holding | 1.82 | -26% |
| Illegal Block Above the Waist | 0.29 | -26% |
| Defensive Holding | 0.60 | -21% |
| Neutral Zone Infraction | 0.54 | +18% |
| Defensive Offside | 0.51 | -13% |
| Delay of Game | 0.49 | -11% |
| Unnecessary Roughness | 0.61 | -10% |
| False Start | 2.30 | +4% |
| Defensive Pass Interference | 1.02 | -0% |
Season by season
| Season | Games | Flags / game |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 16 | 12.1 |
| 2016 | 16 | 10.9 |
| 2017 | 16 | 10.1 |
| 2018 | 17 | 11.1 |
| 2019 | 17 | 11.5 |
| 2020 | 16 | 10.0 |
| 2021 | 17 | 9.1 |
| 2022 | 17 | 8.6 |
| 2023 | 18 | 11.6 |
| 2024 | 17 | 11.5 |
| 2025 | 17 | 13.5 |
| 2026 | 6 | 13.7 |
Recent games
| Date | Game | Score | Flags | By team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-25 | PIT @ NO | 16–10 | 11 | PIT 6 · NO 5 |
| 2026-10-18 | TEN @ IND | 26–20 | 13 | TEN 8 · IND 5 |
| 2026-10-11 | CLE @ NYJ | 12–17 | 16 | CLE 6 · NYJ 10 |
| 2026-10-04 | NE @ BUF | 29–26 | 10 | NE 5 · BUF 5 |
| 2026-09-27 | LA @ DEN | 26–30 | 18 | LA 13 · DEN 5 |
| 2026-09-20 | LV @ LAC | 26–14 | 14 | LV 6 · LAC 8 |
| 2026-01-03 | SEA @ SF | 13–3 | 8 | SEA 5 · SF 3 |
| 2025-12-25 | DEN @ KC | 20–13 | 7 | DEN 5 · KC 2 |
| 2025-12-21 | BUF @ CLE | 23–20 | 10 | BUF 5 · CLE 5 |
| 2025-12-14 | WAS @ NYG | 29–21 | 17 | WAS 11 · NYG 6 |
Questions
How many penalties does Bill Vinovich call per game?
In 2026 through Week 7, games Bill Vinovich's crew worked averaged 13.7 accepted penalties and 103.3 penalty yards per game (6 games). His 2015–25 average was 11.0; the 2026 league average is 14.7.
What penalties does Bill Vinovich call most?
Per game, 2015–25: false start (2.30), offensive holding (1.82), defensive pass interference (1.02). Compared with other crews: More pre-snap fouls: 40% of flags (league 35%); Calls fewer offensive holding: 26% below the league rate.
Does Bill Vinovich call more penalties on the home team?
In 2015–25, 49% of the flags in his games were on the home team (league: 49%). Small differences like this are normal and are not evidence of bias.
Statistics reflect the crew chief's assignment; crews change around the chief each year. Patterns, not motives.