It’s not everyday that an NFL referee sprints across the field and hurdles over team equipment to go and break up a brawl amongst players. But that is exactly what Dominique Pender did on Sunday. NFL official Dominique Pender made the headlines in Week 17 for an impressive display of athleticismGettyIt was the game dubbed the ‘Tank Bowl’ and it was not short of dramaGettyThings got chippy during the clash between the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants as the two teams entered the matchup with identical losing records (2-13) – the worst in the NFL. That was, of course, somewhat to be expected with just two games left of the season to decide who would get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft and hold the advantage in the Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes.Midway through the contest, Big Blue cornerback Rico Payton and Raiders corner Chigozie Anusiem got into a tangle which spilled over into the Giants sideline, and almost into the crowd. It appeared that Payton attempted to stamp on the head of Anusiem – after shocking footage later emerged from a fan’s perspective – after shoving him into a water cooler before the Raiders rival responded by tackling him to the ground.View Tweet: https://t.co/SkNiavHGmgPayton’s Giants teammates rallied around to intervene, but it was referee Pender who attracted the attention of many after sprinting 30 yards down the sideline and even hurdling over team equipment as he sought the quickest route to reaching the ongoing melee. “Thats actually pretty impressive. Duck and weave, jump obstacles, get dirty … all in days work,” one fan posted to X (formerly Twitter). “Seems to me he should be playing in the NFL, not refereeing the games. Dude got wheels,” another fan joked. Jaxson Dart and the Giants went on to win the game at Allegiant Stadium 34-10, snapping a nine-game losing skid and climbing to 3-13 on the season. But this came at the cost of putting the Raiders into pole position for the coveted first overall pick after they dropped to 2-14 with one game left of the season against the Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs.Both teams are expected to receive punishment from the league in the aftermath of the brawl, with standard fines for fighting being in the region of $40,686 per involved player. A melee ensued when a tangle between Giants CB Payton and Raiders CB Anusiem spilled out of boundsX/ @NFLonCBSNFL side judge Dominique Pender sprinted 30 yards down the sideline as he intervened to put an end to the meleeX/ @NFLonCBSFans stunned to find out NFL official’s life outside of footballWhilst much of the narrative after the game was centered around the Giants once again giving up the chance for the No. 1 pick by pulling off a win in Week 17 as they also did in the 2024 season, there was also an incredible story emerging about the official that stole the show. Pender is in his sixth season in the NFL, primarily serving as a side judge, though he has also been a field judge, serving on the crew headed by Land Clark. Outside of football, it turns out that Pender has quite the resumé.He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance degree from Howard University – the same HBCU that former vice president Kamala Harris attended – and a Masters in Secondary Education and Teaching from Teachers College at Columbia University.Not only that, Pender is also a Vice President at Citi Bank, a role he has held for almost four years. When the revelation of this information emerged, NFL fans were left stunned.Pender could be seen climbing over sideline equipment to reach the spot of the brawlX/ @NFLonCBSPender is in his sixth season in the NFL, primarily serving as a Side JudgeGetty“WAIT…. NFL Refs have “Day Jobs” ???????,” one fan commented. “Wow talk about a crazy part time job ,” another wrote.“Built different brains hustle and athleticism all in one redefining what excellence looks like on and off the field,” a third said, praising Pender for what he showed on the field. NFL officials are estimated to earn an average annual salary of $205,000 based on indications from previous collective bargaining agreements. With referees typically given a 19-game assignment for the season (including the preseason but not the playoffs), their average earnings lie in the region of $10,800 per game.They also receive bonuses, which puts Pender in a favorable financial position. Fair play. Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.