He actually said it.
It wasn't a slip of the tongue or a hot-mic accident. On September 29, 1986, Ben Dreith, an NFL referee with a voice like gravel and a no-nonsense attitude, stood in the middle of the field at Orchard Park and delivered a line that would outlive his entire 20-year career. "Personal foul, number 99 of the defense," Dreith announced to a confused crowd of over 70,000 people. Then came the kicker: "After he tackled the quarterback, he's just giving him the business down there."
The crowd roared. The announcers lost it. Decades later, we’re still talking about it.
It's one of those rare moments where the rigid, rule-bound world of professional sports cracks open just enough to let a little humanity leak through. But if you look deeper than the meme-worthy clip, there is a lot more to the story of the referee giving him the business than just a funny phrase. It was a clash of personalities, a specific moment in NFL history where the rules were changing, and a testament to a referee who refused to sound like a robot.
Who Was the Player Getting the Business?
To understand why Dreith said what he said, you have to know who he was looking at. The "him" in this scenario was Marty Lyons.
Lyons was a defensive tackle for the New York Jets and a prominent member of the "New York Sack Exchange." He was a big, physical player who didn't exactly have a reputation for being a choir boy on the field. The Jets were playing the Buffalo Bills. In the heat of the game, Lyons got to Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.
Now, Kelly was a rookie sensation, the savior of Buffalo football. When Lyons got him on the ground, he didn't just tackle him. He started wailing on him. We aren't talking about a gentle shove. Lyons was essentially using Kelly’s helmet as a speed bag, throwing repetitive punches while Kelly was pinned to the turf.
Ben Dreith saw it. He didn't see a standard "unnecessary roughness" foul. He saw a guy getting worked over. He saw a player, quite literally, giving another man the business.
Why Ben Dreith Used That Specific Language
Dreith wasn't trying to be a comedian. Honestly, he was just being Ben.
Before the NFL moved toward the hyper-sanitized, lawyer-approved language of the modern era, referees had a bit more "flavor." Dreith was a veteran who had been in the league since the AFL days. He had a reputation for being firm but fair, and he didn't like it when players took cheap shots.
The official rulebook term for what Lyons did was "fighting" or "unnecessary roughness." But those terms felt too clinical for what was happening. By saying the player was giving him the business, Dreith communicated exactly what the fans saw: a one-sided beatdown that had nothing to do with football and everything to do with a lack of discipline.
👉 See also: Why the 2025 NFL Draft Class is a Total Headache for Scouts
It’s interesting to note that this wasn't even the first time the phrase had been used in a sports context, though Dreith made it legendary. Old-school coaches used the term "the business" to describe a wide range of extracurricular activities—poking eyes, pulling hair, or the kind of rib-punching that happens at the bottom of a fumble pile. Dreith just had the guts to say it into a live microphone.
The NFL Rulebook vs. The Dreith Style
If a referee tried that today, they’d probably get a stern talking-to from the league office in New York. Modern NFL officiating is about precision. You hear "illegal contact," "unnecessary roughness," or "disconcerting signals." It’s all very sterile.
But in 1986, the league was a bit more like the Wild West.
What Actually Counts as Giving Him the Business?
Technically, "the business" isn't a penalty. If you look at the 2024 or 2025 NFL Rulebook, you won't find it in the index. What Dreith was actually penalizing was a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8, which covers unnecessary roughness. Specifically, it prohibits:
- Striking an opponent with fists, palms, or forearms.
- Kicking or kneeing an opponent.
- Any act that is "unnecessarily rough" after the ball is dead.
Lyons was doing all of the above. Jim Kelly was on the ground, the play was over, and Lyons was still swinging. In Dreith’s mind, "giving him the business" was the only phrase that captured the repetitive, almost rhythmic nature of the punches Lyons was landing.
The Cultural Legacy of the Call
You can't talk about the referee giving him the business without mentioning how it paved the way for other "human" moments in officiating.
Think about Ed Hochuli. He became a celebrity ref not just because of his biceps, but because he would give 45-second long explanations of complex rules that sounded like a law professor giving a lecture. Or Mike Carey, who always seemed to have a bit of a twinkle in his eye when he caught a player doing something stupid.
Dreith’s call became a shorthand for sports fans. It’s been referenced in movies, on SportsCenter, and even in other sports. When a basketball player gets tangled up and starts throwing elbows, or a hockey player takes an extra whack at a goalie, fans on social media immediately start typing "he's giving him the business!"
It’s a perfect example of how one man’s refusal to use jargon can create a lasting piece of Americana.
The Fallout: What Happened to Dreith and Lyons?
Surprisingly, the world didn't end because a referee used a colloquialism.
✨ Don't miss: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
Marty Lyons actually took it in stride. In later interviews, he admitted that he deserved the penalty. He and Jim Kelly eventually became friends, which is the kind of irony you only find in pro sports. Lyons even used the phrase as the title for his autobiography: Marty Lyons: Giving Him the Business. He leaned into the moment.
Ben Dreith, however, had a tougher road. Despite being one of the most respected officials in the league, he was eventually demoted to a line judge and then pushed out of the league. He ended up filing an age discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, which he won. It was a bit of a sour end for a guy who brought so much personality to the game.
He passed away in 2021 at the age of 87, but his voice lives on every time a fan watches a "Top 10 Funniest NFL Moments" countdown.
Why We Still Love This Clip
In a world of AI-generated content and PR-scrubbed interviews, the referee giving him the business feels authentic. It’s real. It’s a guy calling it like he sees it.
We crave that. We want the people in charge to speak our language. When Dreith said that, he wasn't a "Senior Officiating Official," he was just a guy from Denver who thought Marty Lyons was being a jerk.
There's also the rhythm of it. The way Dreith pauses. The way he emphasizes "business." It’s a masterclass in timing. If he had just said "hitting him," nobody would care. But "giving him the business" implies a process. It implies a deliberate, methodical application of pain. It’s hilarious because it’s so descriptive yet so unprofessional.
How the Phrase Is Used Today
While you won't hear it in a Super Bowl anytime soon, the phrase has moved into the general lexicon of American business and politics.
- In the Workplace: Sometimes a boss is "giving you the business" during a performance review. It means you're getting a lecture you can't escape.
- In Politics: When one candidate dominates another in a debate, pundits might say they gave them "the business."
- In Daily Life: It’s that feeling when the world is just piling on. Your car breaks down, your coffee spills, and your boss calls you early? The universe is giving you the business.
Officiating Lessons from Ben Dreith
There is actually a lesson here for people who work in communications or leadership.
Don't be afraid to be clear. Dreith’s job was to communicate a foul to the stadium. If he had used the technical jargon, people would have understood, but they wouldn't have felt it. By using a phrase that everyone understood instinctively, he cleared up any confusion about why the flag was thrown.
Clarity beats jargon every single time.
🔗 Read more: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
What to Watch For Next Time You See a Flag
The next time you’re watching a game and a flag flies, pay attention to the referee’s "announcement voice." Most of them have a "ref voice"—that slightly robotic, monotone delivery.
Then, go back and watch the Ben Dreith clip on YouTube.
Notice the difference. Notice how he isn't reading from a script in his head. He’s telling a story. He’s describing a scene. We might never get another official quite like Dreith, but we can still appreciate the time he decided to tell the truth instead of the rules.
How to Spot "The Business" in Modern Sports
If you want to see a modern version of this, you have to look at the "unprescribed" moments.
- Watch the Mic'd Up segments: This is where you hear what refs actually say to players. They aren't saying "Sir, please refrain from illegal use of hands." They’re saying "Get your paws off him or I'm taking 15 yards."
- Check the CFL and XFL: These leagues often have live-mic'd referees throughout the entire game. You’ll hear much more "Dreith-esque" language in these leagues because they value the entertainment factor of the officiating.
- Look for the "Double Foul" explanations: When two players get into it, listen to how the ref describes who started it. Sometimes, you’ll hear a hint of that old-school frustration in their voice.
The legacy of the referee giving him the business is that it reminds us that sports are played by people and officiated by people. And people are occasionally going to say something funny when they're annoyed.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of NFL officiating or want to see the specific evolution of the unnecessary roughness rule, your best bet is to check out the NFL Operations website or look for vintage game films from the 1980s. You’ll see a version of football that was much more physical, much more chaotic, and, thanks to guys like Ben Dreith, much more vocal.
Next time you’re in a heated situation and someone is making things difficult for you, just remember Marty Lyons. Take a breath. Don't give them the business. It’ll save you 15 yards and a lifetime of being a punchline on a highlight reel.
Practical Takeaways for Sports Fans:
- Understand the "Dead Ball" Era: Most "business" happens after the whistle. If the whistle blows, the hands should go up, not into someone's face.
- Respect the Ref: Being an official is a thankless job. Sometimes, a little humor is the only thing keeping them sane.
- Language Matters: Whether you’re writing an email or calling a foul, the words you choose will define how people remember the event. Choose the ones that tell the truth.