NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson defended the quality of league officiating in an interview with OutKick, arguing that the accuracy of calls matters more than the total number of penalties. Hanson said he considers NFL officiating the strongest among the major four sports, while acknowledging that officials sometimes make mistakes.
The discussion followed an ESPN Insights report cited by OutKick that said officials had accepted more penalties through the first four weeks of the 2026 season than in the same period of any season since 1978. The report also counted 17 touchdowns nullified by penalties during that span, compared with five through four weeks of the prior season.
Hanson said the NFL had issued a statement indicating that penalties per game were down for the year. The interview account identifies the conversation as having been recorded Friday, October 9, and says Hanson referred to the league’s response while discussing concerns about the number of flags. The supplied material does not provide the league statement itself or further details about its figures.
Asked about the ESPN Insights report, Hanson said he tries to show respect for the players, coaches, support staff and officials involved in the game. He rejected the idea that the number of penalties, by itself, determines whether officiating is working well. In his view, the key question is whether the calls are correct.
Hanson conceded that some decisions go the wrong way. He attributed mistakes in part to the limits of human perception, saying that players’ movements can happen faster than officials can see and judge them. He also noted that judgment errors occur.
The interview turned to whether officials call games more loosely during the postseason. OutKick raised the argument that the league reduces marginal penalties in the playoffs to avoid slowing games, and asked why it would not apply that approach during the regular season. Hanson questioned the premise, saying he was not sure playoff officiating is actually different.
He suggested that the greater attention given to individual playoff games may make calls seem more prominent: postseason games are played in separate broadcast windows, he said, so each decision receives heightened scrutiny and can help shape a narrative about officiating.
Hanson also said he understood that the NFL assembles highly rated officiating crews for playoff assignments. He said he would support making officials’ performance grades public, arguing that more transparency could help fans understand how crews are evaluated and selected for high-profile games. He did not provide details about the league’s grading system.
The interview included other subjects, including a discussion of the Historical Jesus, according to OutKick. The outlet described that exchange as a respectful debate and invited readers to watch the full interview. Its account also praised Hanson’s participation.
