We had a true heavyweight in the football world join us bright and early on The Starting Lineup. FOX rules analyst and replay guru Dean Blandino called into the studio to break down everything from the high-stakes world of officiating to what it’s really like sharing a broadcast booth with the greatest quarterback of all time.

The UFL’s Third Season and Expansion Potential

We kicked things off by diving into the recently wrapped third season of the United Football League (UFL). Under the new ownership of Mike Rubin, the league has built some incredible momentum. Dean shared his excitement after an incredible “United Bowl” championship game, which saw the Louisville Kings bounce back from an 0-3 start to take down the defending champion D.C. Defenders. Even better for football fans? The TV ratings are hitting strong numbers—averaging 800,000 to 900,000 viewers—and there is real talk of expansion cities coming down the pipeline in a couple of years.

The Local Mentors of the Ozarks

You can’t talk football officiating without bringing it back to our neck of the woods right here in Springfield, Missouri. We asked Dean about his connection to local retired NFL official Larry Nemmers, who lives right here in the community. Blandino didn’t hold back his praise, calling Larry one of his absolute favorites, a legendary NFL referee, and a vital mentor who took a genuine interest in his career. We also gave a massive shout-out to our good friend Ron Snodgrass for getting us connected with Dean for this incredible segment!

Inside the FOX Booth with Tom Brady

Of course, Ned, Scott, and Art had to get the inside scoop on what it’s like working Saturdays and Sundays for FOX Sports. Dean travels every single weekend with the A-crew, working alongside Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews, and none other than seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Dean gave us a peak behind the curtain on Brady’s transition to the media side, noting that despite being the “GOAT,” Brady comes into the TV world completely coachable, incredibly hardworking, and eager to learn the craft as a phenomenal teammate.

The Future of Replay Technology

To close it out, our technical analyst Art Haines dug into how much replay has evolved over the last ten years. Dean took us back to 1999 when the NFL reintroduced replay in standard definition. Today, command centers have instant access to every single camera feed live, without waiting for television producers. As for what’s next? Dean notes that while referees use tablets as confidence monitors, the next 3 to 5 years could see advanced camera technology used to accurately spot the football deep inside a pile.