Do NFL Refs Get Drug Tested? The Truth They Don't Tell

Wait... do refs really get tested like players do?

Okay, real talk—this question came up in a heated Sunday football debate with my buddy Kevin. He swore up and down that “of course refs get drug tested, just like players.” I wasn’t so sure. I mean, players are pushing their bodies to the limit, but refs? They’re not getting tackled out there... right?

But the more I thought about it, the more curious I got. These guys (and some women now, thankfully) are running up and down the field for hours, under pressure, and yeah—one bad call and all hell breaks loose on Twitter. So... are they held to the same standards as athletes?

Turns out, it's not that simple.

Do NFL referees officially get drug tested?

The NFL’s stance: yes, but not as often as players

Yes—they do get drug tested. But not in the same way, or at the same frequency, as NFL players.

From what I could dig up (and honestly, the league isn’t super transparent about this), NFL officials are subject to pre-employment drug screenings and can be randomly tested throughout the season. But there’s no publicized strict policy like the one that exists for athletes, which includes regular, scheduled, and surprise testing for everything from steroids to recreational drugs.

So yeah, technically they’re tested. But it feels more... corporate. Like how your office might randomly test once a year to keep insurance costs down.

Why drug testing refs still matters

Focus, decision-making, and pressure

Look, officiating isn’t easy. You’ve got to stay laser-focused, remember dozens of rules in high-speed situations, and deal with screaming coaches in your face. And all that, while 70,000 people in the stadium—and millions at home—are ready to roast you for any mistake.

Now imagine trying to do that while impaired. Yikes.

One guy I knew from college, Ryan, became a college-level ref. He once told me, “I don’t even drink the night before a game. The margin for error is way too small.” That stuck with me.

So yeah, even if they're not hitting the same physical highs and lows as players, refs need to be clear-headed 100% of the time. One bad call can literally shift playoff standings. Or ruin a season.

Public perception and integrity

Let’s be real—the NFL has had more than its fair share of controversial calls. Remember the “Fail Mary”? Or the 2018 NFC Championship debacle? (Don’t get Saints fans started...) Now imagine if there was even a hint that a ref was under the influence during one of those.

Even if it’s not common, the league has to test at least occasionally. Just for the optics. Otherwise the conspiracy theorists would go absolutely wild.

What substances do refs get tested for?

Mostly the basics (but nothing too hardcore)

Again, this isn't public info in detail—but from sources close to NFL operations, refs are tested for the usual:

• Alcohol

• Marijuana

• Cocaine

• Prescription drug abuse

• Performance-enhancing drugs (though like... are they gonna be bench pressing on the sideline?)

Interestingly, there’s less concern about PEDs for refs. Makes sense—they're not gaining competitive advantage like players. But anything that messes with their focus or behavior? Big no-no.

The weird reality: refs are more like employees than athletes

Here’s the part that threw me off.

NFL refs are actually part-time employees. Yep. Many have day jobs—lawyers, teachers, insurance guys. That blew my mind. So in that sense, the drug testing is more like what you'd get at a regular job.

They are expected to stay fit (I’ve seen their training camps—it’s no joke), but they’re not full-time NFL staff like coaches or trainers. So again, the policies are way more relaxed.

I almost feel bad now for getting so mad at them during games. Almost.

So... should refs be tested more?

Honestly? Maybe.

With how much is riding on their decisions—and how much scrutiny they get—I kind of think stricter drug testing would be fair. I mean, if a player loses a touchdown because of a missed call, we’re not just talking about pride. We’re talking money, contracts, even job security.

That being said, there’s no big scandal (that we know of) involving refs and drugs. So maybe the current system works?

Or maybe it’s just that we never really looked.

Final thoughts (and yeah, I might’ve been wrong)

So Kevin might’ve been half-right. NFL refs do get drug tested... just not in the way players do. And I’ll admit—I assumed it was way more lax than it actually is.

But the takeaway here? They’re human. They mess up, but they’re not out there high on something making calls. And if they are? Well, I really hope the league steps it up.

Next time someone botches a holding call, at least now I can scream at the TV with a little more nuance: "You better be sober, man!"

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