Dean Blandino is widely regarded as the authority on Instant Replay. During a 14-year tenure with the National Football League (NFL) Dean was responsible for all aspects of replay. During this time he spent three years as an NFL Reply Official, five years running the Instant Replay program, cumulating in two years heading up the League’s Officiating Operations. Responsibilities included coordinating and presenting at NFL officiating clinics, editing the NFL Rule and Case Books, creating Officiating Manuals, preparing reference material for the NFL Competition Committee, and identifying all potential on-field player discipline.
While overseeing the NFL’s instant replay program, Blandino was responsible for the hiring, training and supervising of NFL replay officials, video operators, communicators, and technicians. He helped implement the NFL’s Instant Replay system in 1999 and was since in charge of all replay technology needs, coordinating the system’s High Definition upgrade in 2007.
As the importance and demand for Instant Replay in sports grew, so did the demand for Dean’s expertise. As a result, in 2009, Dean founded Under The Hood Inc., creating the ability to work with other leagues and sports associations. Continuing to work with the NFL on a consulting basis, Dean is now collaborating with the Big Ten, Mid-American, and Big 12 college conferences as well as the United Football League (UFL). In additio,n he is providing consultation to several sports-related technology companies.
As an NFL replay official, Dean worked eight post-season games, including Super Bowl XXXIV and XXXV, two Conference Championships, two Divisional playoff games, and two Wildcard games.
Since taking over the NFL replay system, Dean has supervised more than 120 games, including the last six Super Bowls. In UTH’s founding season, Dean trained replay officials at more than 12 NCAA football games, including Texas – Oklahoma, Ohio State–Michigan, and the Fiesta Bowl; 30 NFL games, including Super Bowl XLIV; and four UFL games, including the championship game in Las Vegas.
Dean also leads several instant replay clinics during the off season.