Sources – John Parry leaves ESPN for new role with Bills

BUFFALO, N.Y. — ESPN NFL rules analyst John Parry is leaving the network to take a job with the Buffalo Bills, multiple sources have confirmed. Parry will join the Bills in a new role as liaison officer.

The Bills previously had no staff member with that title, and a liaison officer can provide the team with perspective on how the officials perceive the game and help the coaching staff have all the appropriate information to make decisions during matches. Parry told Football Zebras over the weekend that he was leaving the network to join an NFL team and shared that the Bills reached out during the offseason.

Coach Sean McDermott joined the NFL’s competition committee this offseason, and a new kickoff rule was approved this spring that Buffalo prepared for by signing and drafting certain players who fit the new rules and studying the game in the offseason.

In his role at ESPN, Parry appeared on a variety of network programs, including “Monday Night Football” from the booth on a weekly basis.

Parry joined ESPN in 2019 after retiring after 19 seasons as an NFL official, including his final 12 years as a referee that ended with Super Bowl LIII. He appeared in three Super Bowls (LIII, XLVI and XLI), two wild card playoff games, seven division playoff games and one conference championship game.

He also has officiating experience in the Big Ten Conference and Arena Football League.

The New York Post first reported that Parry would be joining the Bills organization.