NFL Officiating Observatory
CREW CHIEF PROFILE
Scott Novak: NFL referee penalty stats (2026)
Scott Novak is an NFL referee (crew chief). In 2026, games his crew has worked average 20.1 accepted penalties over 7 games, 37% above the league's 14.7. Across 2015–25 his crew averaged 11.7 per game (112 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: Game-changers.
- Smaller calls: 8.1 yards per flag (league 8.4)
- Calls fewer neutral zone infraction: 20% below the league rate
- Calls fewer unnecessary roughness: 25% below the league rate
- Calls more delay of game: 23% above the league rate
Calls most like: Clete Blakeman, Carl Cheffers.
Penalty types vs the league (2015–25, season-adjusted, per game)
| Penalty | Per game | vs league rate |
|---|---|---|
| Unnecessary Roughness | 0.51 | -25% |
| Delay of Game | 0.67 | +23% |
| Roughing the Passer | 0.32 | -23% |
| Illegal Block Above the Waist | 0.47 | +22% |
| Neutral Zone Infraction | 0.36 | -20% |
| Defensive Offside | 0.66 | +14% |
| Defensive Pass Interference | 0.94 | -9% |
| Offensive Holding | 2.40 | -3% |
| False Start | 2.14 | -3% |
| Defensive Holding | 0.77 | +1% |
Season by season
| Season | Games | Flags / game |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15 | 11.3 |
| 2020 | 16 | 10.2 |
| 2021 | 16 | 13.3 |
| 2022 | 16 | 12.8 |
| 2023 | 16 | 9.7 |
| 2024 | 17 | 12.2 |
| 2025 | 17 | 11.8 |
| 2026 | 7 | 20.1 |
Recent games
| Date | Game | Score | Flags | By team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-25 | CLE @ TEN | 27–24 | 13 | CLE 8 · TEN 5 |
| 2026-10-18 | CHI @ ATL | 31–23 | 16 | CHI 12 · ATL 4 |
| 2026-10-12 | BUF @ LA | 37–34 | 24 | BUF 13 · LA 11 |
| 2026-10-04 | LAC @ SEA | 23–30 | 30 | LAC 16 · SEA 14 |
| 2026-09-27 | MIN @ TB | 23–16 | 17 | MIN 9 · TB 8 |
| 2026-09-20 | GB @ NYJ | 20–17 | 27 | GB 14 · NYJ 13 |
| 2026-09-13 | BAL @ IND | 41–23 | 14 | BAL 10 · IND 4 |
| 2026-01-04 | TEN @ JAX | 7–41 | 8 | TEN 5 · JAX 3 |
| 2025-12-28 | TB @ MIA | 17–20 | 15 | TB 5 · MIA 10 |
| 2025-12-21 | LV @ HOU | 21–23 | 13 | LV 9 · HOU 4 |
Questions
How many penalties does Scott Novak call per game?
In 2026 through Week 7, games Scott Novak's crew worked averaged 20.1 accepted penalties and 186.1 penalty yards per game (7 games). His 2015–25 average was 11.7; the 2026 league average is 14.7.
What penalties does Scott Novak call most?
Per game, 2015–25: offensive holding (2.40), false start (2.14), defensive pass interference (0.94). Compared with other crews: Smaller calls: 8.1 yards per flag (league 8.4); Calls fewer neutral zone infraction: 20% below the league rate.
Does Scott Novak call more penalties on the home team?
In 2015–25, 50% 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.