how many referees are there in an nfl game
Fail Mary


the game, an agreement was reached between the NFL and NFL Referees Association to end the 2012 NFL referee lockout that began in June 2012. The contentious nature of the replacement officials' decision at the end of the Packers-Seahawks game is widely considered to have been the tipping point that finally led to the agreement. Roger Goodell acknowledged that the game "may have pushed the parties further along" in negotiations. One blog writer speculated on how this game would affect the standings for the rest of the regular season. Kevin
2123616
By Common Consent


commercials featuring a close play in an NFL game, with the tag line "You make the call!". The idea was for the TV viewer to pretend he is the referee and call the play how he sees it, and then compare the actual call the referee made in the game. So, in that spirit...this is a game where we examine a close play, and in the comments section of this blog, presumably without the benefit of guidance by the Spirit, we state our case for the call
15785926
2016 CFL season


the NFL announced a landmark joint-partnership involving their officiating staff. NFL-trained referees would officiate preseason and regular-season games in the CFL, while CFL officials would attend NFL training camps and education sessions before working pre-season games in the NFL. NFL referees working CFL games would mostly be side and field judges to minimize the rules differences between the two leagues. Several CFL officials would participate in the NFL's Officiating Development Program, including working NFL mini-camps, training camps and preseason games. Analysts saw
640832
2012 NFL referee lockout


either doesn't know all of the NFL's rules or misapplies them." After Week 2 of the regular season, the NFLPA sent a message to team owners urging them to end the lockout, making a reference to Goodell's power to fine players for illegal hits: After the controversial ending of the week 3 Packers–Seahawks game, many players expressed their frustration with the replacement referees via Twitter. A tweet by Packers guard T. J. Lang—"Fuck it NFL.. Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs.
2183377
Fail Mary


the touchdown and resulted in a Packers victory. The lack of a pass interference penalty and the ruling of a touchdown via simultaneous catch were widely questioned in the aftermath of the game, drawing comments from the game's announcers, NFL players, and the media. The NFL subsequently released a statement defending the touchdown ruling. The controversial ending followed weeks of criticism regarding the quality of officiating by replacement officials employed by the NFL during the 2012 NFL referee lockout. Two days after the game, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association
2123601
2014 NFL season


spent the past 11 seasons as a field judge, were promoted to referee to replace Green and Winter. On June 25, 2014, the NFL announced Mike Carey's retirement as a referee. Like former director of officiating Mike Pereira for Fox Sports, Carey will become the rules/refereeing analyst for CBS's NFL coverage on the network's Thursday night and Sunday afternoon games. He was replaced by Brad Allen, who spent the past nine seasons as an ACC referee. He was the first rookie NFL referee since 1962 when
4730830
Roger Goodell


agreement, thus failing to resolve a labor dispute. Accordingly, the NFL locked out the regular NFL game officials, and opened the 2012 season with replacement referees. The replacement officials consisted of low-level college and high school officials. None were Division I college referees at the time since the league wanted to protect them from union backlash and let them continue working their scheduled games during the concurrent college football season. In addition, many of the top Division I conferences barred their officials from becoming replacements anyway because they employed current
8203793
2012 NFL referee lockout


complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the league of unfair labor practices. On September 26, 2012, an agreement was reached between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association to end the lockout after mounting criticism of the NFL and the performance of the replacement officials. The agreement was assisted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and was ratified by the NFL Referees Association. Carl Johnson, the NFL's former vice president of officiating, was announced as the league's first full-time, on-field game
2183349
Mike Carey (American football)


in 1972 working Pop Warner football games in the San Diego, California, area after a suggestion by a friend. Progressing to the college level in 1985, he joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). In the WAC, he officiated three bowl games. Carey was hired by the NFL in 1990 as a side judge, before being promoted to referee for the start of the 1995 NFL season. He became the second African American referee in NFL history after Johnny Grier in 1988. In addition to being selected as referee
8991262
Terry McAulay


Beginning in 1982, McAulay was a software programmer for the National Security Agency. He retired in 2008. McAulay's football officiating career began in 1976, including many years at the high school level in Howard County, Maryland. Prior to joining the NFL, McAulay was a referee in the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1994 to 1997, and was the referee for the BCS National Championship Game at the Miami Orange Bowl, in 1998. McAulay began his NFL officiating career in 1998 as a side judge on Walt Coleman's crew and
15624413
Larry Nemmers


at that position before being promoted to referee for the start of the 1991 NFL season after Jerry Seeman and Jim Tunney announced their retirements. As a referee, he was an alternate for Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. He wore uniform number 20 throughout his entire NFL officiating career. In the 1993 NFL Season he was accused of directing a racial slur toward New York Jets cornerback Erik McMillan. Nemmers has officiated games which involved a player breaking a statistical record. He was the referee in the January 6, 2002 game that saw
15624461
2012 NFL referee lockout


that the replacement referees were "an embarrassment to Roger Goodell and the NFL owners, who are allowing underqualified and unprepared people to tarnish a great league." One of the replacements was Shannon Eastin, the first female to ever officiate an NFL game, but writers such as Darin Gantt of Profootballtalk.com and Sam Farmer of the "Los Angeles Times" lamented the fact that she broke this gender barrier as one of the strikebreakers. After the controversial ending to the week 3 Packers-Seahawks game, the NFL and the replacement officials
2183379
2012 NFL referee lockout


of planning to lock them out all along rather than negotiate a new contract. The union contended that the lockout would jeopardize the safety of the players and the integrity of the game, citing the fact that none of the replacement officials would come from the top college divisions and thus would not have enough experience to adjust to the speed of the NFL game or enforce the various players' safety rules. The NFL denied these claims, saying that they negotiated in good faith. In July 2012, the NFL Referees Association filed a
2183348
Jerry Markbreit


Jerry Markbreit (born March 23, 1935) is a former American football referee in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons and became one of the most recognizable referees in the game. Markbreit officiated football games for 43 seasons. From 1965 to 1975, Markbreit officiated college football games in the Big Ten Conference. He then joined the NFL in 1976 as a line judge on the crew of Tommy Bell before being promoted to the head referee position in just his second year. His uniform number in the league was
19770642
Mark Hittner


divisional, and two conference championship games. For the 2017 NFL season, Hittner was the down judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Craig Wrolstad. He worked with referee Ed Hochuli from the 2000 NFL season to the 2013 NFL season. Outside of his NFL officiating duties, Hittner owns a financial services company in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. He is married and has three sons. Hittner was the head linesman on the Super Bowl XL officiating crew headed by referee Bill Leavy. Hittner made a touchdown call in the second
21807433
1999 NFL season


retired prior to the 1999 season. He joined the NFL in 1976 as a line judge before being promoted to the referee in just his second year. To date, he is the only NFL referee to officiate four Super Bowl games: Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXVI, and Super Bowl XXIX. Jeff Triplette was promoted to referee to replace Markbreit. The 1999 NFL Draft was held from April 17 to 18, 1999 at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the first pick
4879472
Bill Carollo


the New England-Buffalo game. Bill Leavy was scheduled to officiate the November 11th Buffalo-Miami game, but fell ill. Carollo served as the referee for that contest using Leavy's crew. In August 2008, Carollo announced he would retire as an NFL referee at the end of the 2008 NFL season to become the Director of Officiating for the Big Ten Conference. His final assignment was for the AFC Championship game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens on January 18, 2009. Don Carey, brother of NFL
15624366
Gene Steratore


catch". Steratore was supported by the NFL and backed by its former vice president of officiating, Mike Pereira. The rule has since been referred to as the "Calvin Johnson rule". Steratore was selected as the first referee to officiate a game following the 2012 NFL referee lockout on September 27, 2012, a Thursday-night contest between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore crowd cheered Steratore and his crew as they entered the field. Steratore was named as referee for the NFC Championship game on January
4369698
Bottlegate


and the fans pelted them with bottles. After a few minutes, Paul Tagliabue, the NFL Commissioner at the time, called and informed the referees that they did not have the authority to end a game early, and that the game must be completed. The referees told the players in the locker room, many of whom were undressed and showering, that they needed to go back out. When the players and officials returned to the field, over 20 minutes had already elapsed since the disputed 4th down play. After 2
6600548
List of gridiron football rules


) or 100 points (in a standard convention). The NFL adopted many ideas introduced by the AFL, including names on player jerseys and revenue sharing of gate and television receipts. The older league also adopted the practice of using the stadium scoreboard clocks to keep track of the official game time, instead of just having a stopwatch used by the referee. The AFL played a 14-game schedule for its entire existence, starting in 1960. The NFL, which had played a 12-game schedule since 1947, changed to a 14-game schedule
4264077
Bill Carollo


Howard Roe announced their retirements. Carollo was assigned to work his first post-season as referee during the 1998-99 NFL playoffs and later made his second appearance in the Super Bowl at Super Bowl XXXVII in 2003. Before he officiated Super Bowl XXXVII, Mike Pereira, the NFL's director of officiating, said of Carollo, "Bill is just perfect in the management of a game. He understands how to handle coaches, players and a team of seven officials. He's terrific at that." In addition,
15624362
2012 NFL referee lockout


lockout. NFL officials and referees gathered in Irving, Texas then left straight to their game sites. Scott Green, president of the referees' association, said It was pretty much 'Come on in and vote'... We're going to talk football now. We're going to stop talking about CBAs and lockouts and now we're going to talk about rules and video and getting ourselves ready to work football games. The officials' union said that all of its demands amounted to a $3.2 million annual cost to the
2183353
Referee


responsibilities during the game: referee, head linesman ("down judge" in the NFL), line judge, umpire, back judge, side judge, and field judge. An association football (soccer) match is presided over by a referee, whom the Laws of the Game give "full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed" (Law 5). The referee is oftentimes assisted by two assistant referees, and sometimes by a fourth official. In
15323617
Terry McAulay


worked the 2000 NFC Championship game, which was his last game at that position before he became a referee for the 2001 NFL season. He wore uniform number 77. Coincidentally, McAulay wore the same number and originally worked at the same position that was vacated by Mike Pereira, who served as the NFL's Vice President of Officiating from 2001 until February 2010. He was the first referee to work a Super Bowl with fewer than five seasons experience as a referee when he was the crew chief for Super Bowl XXXIX, which
15624414
Ed Hochuli


the magazine, "It was really an easy play. I’ve thought many times why I did what I did. The best explanation is it was almost like dyslexia. I realized it was a fumble and did the wrong thing. I realized I was wrong but there was nothing I could do about it." Hochuli has served as the head of the NFL Referees Association, the union which represents NFL game officials. The union was responsible for negotiating a new contract for the officials prior to the 2001 NFL season.
3157622
National Football League controversies


allegedly making an illegal block during Ike Taylor's interception return. The Steelers would go on to win 21-10. Four years later, referee Bill Leavy issued an apology to the Seahawks. On September 24, 2012, the Green Bay Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. With the NFL and the league's regular referees locked in a contract dispute, replacement officials were acquired to call the games for the first 3–4 weeks. As in previous games, there were many questionable calls made by the replacement officials
17696575
1989 NFL season


1989 off-season. He joined the NFL in 1968 as a line judge before being promoted to referee in 1969. Games that he officiated include Super Bowl XIV and the Freezer Bowl. Dale Hamer and Howard Roe were promoted to referee. In addition to replacing Silva, an extra 16th officiating crew was added to help handle the weekly workload of 14 games. The 1989 NFL Draft was held from April 23 to 24, 1989 at New York City's Marriott Marquis. With the first pick, the Dallas Cowboys selected quarterback
12808422
1972 NFL season


The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first (and to date the only) NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. Referee Jack Vest, the referee for Super Bowl II, the 1969 AFL championship game and 1971 AFC championship game, was killed in a June motorcycle accident. Chuck Heberling was promoted from line judge to fill the vacancy and kept Vest's crew intact. Heberling's line
17386634
Carl Cheffers


a career. Starting in 1980, he worked several high school playoff games, and two high school championship games. By 1995, Cheffers began officiating in the Pac-10 where he worked for five seasons before being hired by the NFL. During this time, he also worked in the Western Athletic Conference. Since entering the NFL, Cheffers has worked as a side judge, most recently on the crew headed by referee Larry Nemmers. Cheffers was promoted to referee (crew chief) beginning with the 2008 NFL season following the retirement of
4267195
2012 NFL referee lockout


Professional athletes require professional referees, and we believe in the NFL Referees Association's trained first responders." Chicago Bears' center Roberto Garza told the "Chicago Tribune" that there is a familiarity with the regular referees on what they will and will not call, and so players "might be able to get away with more" when dealing with the replacement officials. After playing the first preseason game with the replacement officials, New York Giants' receiver Victor Cruz expressed his discomfort with the situation, saying, "I actually
2183375
John Hussey (American football official)


NFL season following the retirement of referee Bill Leavy. His first NFL career game as referee in 2015 was on September 13 in Tampa Bay where he officiated the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hussey was the referee in the Detroit Lions' 18-16 surprise victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 15, 2015, their first in the state of Wisconsin since 1991. Hussey's 2019 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Alan Eck, down judge Kevin Codey, line judge
15226794
1996–97 NFL playoffs


incredible", Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin said. "Our football team just hung in it, and that touchdown to Jimmy Smith in that situation was huge. I told the players at the beginning of the week I believed we could win. I didn't know how it would come down. I didn't give them that script." "I'm just going to go home, sit on my couch and probably cry", said Sharpe after the game. Red Cashion, the game's referee retired after this game
19280385
Ronald Gibbs


Ronald James Gibbs (June 29, 1900 – March 12, 1985) was an American football player, coach, and referee. Gibbs was a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served as the school's head football coach in 1929. Gibbs served as a college basketball and National Football League official. He officiated 15 NFL Championship games and three NCAA Tournament championship games, including the 1950 National Title game. Gibbs was a referee in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, a contest commonly called
12195566
Tommy Bell (American football official)


a Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four (1959). He retired from the NFL following the 1976 AFC Championship Game between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, played December 26, 1976, to conclude a fifteen-year career in the league. Bell was given a choice of officiating the AFC Championship game or Super Bowl XI as his final NFL game by then-Director of Officiating Art McNally. When Bell chose the former, Jim Tunney was selected as the referee for his second Super Bowl. His successor as a referee
16123883
Phil Luckett


Phil Luckett is a retired official in the National Football League (NFL), having served from 1991 to 2005, and again in 2007. His officiating uniform number was 59. He entered the NFL as a field judge in 1991 and officiated Super Bowl XXXI, his last game at that position before he became a referee in 1997 after Red Cashion and Howard Roe announced their retirements. He also refereed in the WLAF/NFL Europe, including being assigned World Bowl '97. He returned to the NFL back judge position in
14446672
Official (American football)


in 2011 and for NFL officials in 2012. In 2014, several high school associations started mandating the wearing of the black slacks for varsity level games. For several decades, all NFL officials wore white hats. In 1979, the referees changed to black hats with white stripes, while the other officials continued to wear white ones. Finally, in 1988, the NFL switched to the high-school and college football convention: the referee wears a white hat (which now includes the NFL logo, first added for Super Bowl
8117386
Bill Carollo


, where he stayed for ten years and included a selection to work the 1988 Rose Bowl Game. In addition to officiating football games in the Big Ten, he was a basketball referee from 1982 to 1988. For a period of time, he also served as the Milwaukee Brewers Official Scorer for the American League. Carollo started in the NFL as a side judge and officiated Super Bowl XXX in 1996 at that position, then became a referee (crew chief) for the start of the 1997 NFL season after Red Cashion and
15624361
Jim Tunney (American football)


then opening both fists simultaneously to indicate the attempt as "good". Officials who worked on Tunney's crew for many years included former NFL great Pat Harder at umpire and head linesman Burl Toler, the NFL's first African-American official. After graduating from Occidental College in 1951, Tunney starting officiating football and basketball working high school, college, and Pacific Coast Conference (Pac-10) games until 1967. In 1960, he was hired to work in the NFL as a field judge before being promoted to the referee position
3696086
Jerome Boger


Boger was promoted to referee in 2006. Boger served as referee for a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans during the season. In the third quarter of the game, Titans' defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was ejected for stomping on the head of Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode. Haynesworth received a five-game suspension as a result of the incident, the longest suspension for an on-field incident in NFL history. Boger also served as referee in 2006 in a Monday Night game where the Chicago Bears defeated the Arizona
4370126
2015 NFL season


to Hussey's promotion to referee, the NFL hired 10 more officials, including the first full-time female official in NFL history, Sarah Thomas, who will work as a line judge, as well as Walt Coleman IV, the son of referee Walt Coleman, who will work as a side judge. This was the second season under broadcast contracts with ESPN, CBS, Fox, and NBC. This included "cross-flexing" (switching) Sunday afternoon games between CBS and Fox before or during the season,
5992996
Super Bowl I


used – when the Chiefs were on offense, the official AFL football (Spalding JV-5) was used, and when the Packers were on offense, the official NFL ball (Wilson's "The Duke") was used. Even the officiating crew was made up of a combination of AFL and NFL referees, with the NFL's Norm Schachter as the head referee. After both teams traded punts on their first possessions of the game, the Packers jumped out to an early 7–0 lead, driving 80 yards in six plays.
9614603
2015 NFL season


Jaguars, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) wore all-new uniforms for the games. The November 12 game between the Bills and Jets was particularly problematic, with the Bills' all-red uniforms (the first time the team has ever worn a red jersey on the field) and the Jets' kelly green outfits being indistinguishable to those with color blindness. Referee Bill Leavy retired after the season. On May 13, 2015, the NFL promoted line judge John Hussey to the referee position. In addition
5992995
2001–02 NFL playoffs


the legendary stadium. This game has become a part of NFL lore. It was the final contest in the history of Foxboro Stadium, played under heavy snowfall. It is best remembered for a call near the end of the game with Oakland protecting a three-point lead. The referees initially ruled that New England quarterback Tom Brady had fumbled on a pass attempt. Invoking the "tuck rule", where a ball is ruled an incomplete pass after the quarterback starts any forward motion, the referee overturned the decision after reviewing
7728151
2012 NFL referee lockout


The 2012 NFL referee lockout was a labor dispute between the National Football League (NFL) and the NFL Referees Association that resulted in the use of replacement officials through Week 3 of the 2012 NFL season. The lockout began in June 2012 after both sides failed to reach consensus on a collective bargaining agreement. On September 26, 2012, an agreement was reached to end the lockout after increasing criticism of the NFL and the performance of the replacement officials. In 2005, the NFL and NFL Referees Association agreed to a contract that
2183346
Mark Baltz


Basketball at the small college levels. In 1984, Baltz joined the Mid-American Conference (Division I-A) where he served as referee (crew chief) until moving to the Big Ten Conference (Division I-A). In the Big Ten, he officiated in three bowl games as head linesman in his five years in the conference before being accepted to the NFL in 1989. Along with his 21 post-season assignments in the NFL, Mark served as referee in NFL Europe for three seasons between 1999
4814843
Jerry Seeman


and eventually referee, a position he held from 1979 until the conclusion of the 1990 NFL season. His retirement from officiating in 1991 after serving as referee in Super Bowl XXV was prompted by being appointed to the Senior Director of Officiating by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, replacing Art McNally who spent 31 seasons as an NFL official and in the front office. On June 30, 2001, Seeman retired as Senior Director of Officiating and was succeeded by Mike Pereira. Seeman was later employed by the NFL as an observer for Sunday games.
8252736
NBC Sunday Night Football


Eagles NFC Divisional game. "Sunday Night Football" had a rules analyst for the first time in program history, as the network added former referee Terry McAulay, who retired after the 2017 season. McAulay has worked three Super Bowls in his tenure as an NFL referee. Also that same year, McAulay worked the Notre Dame Football games for NBC, with FNIA studio host, Mike Tirico. The 2019 schedule was released on April 17. However, on March 25, the NFL announced that, in a break from tradition
11242873
John Hussey (American football official)


John Hussey is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL), who works as a referee. He was hired in the 2002 NFL season as a line judge. Hussey wears uniform number 35. Hussey officiated in Super Bowl XLV in 2011, the 2011 NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants and the 2013 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, all as a line judge. Hussey was promoted to the referee position for the start of the 2015
15226793
List of Super Bowl officials


a Super Bowl. A referee cannot work the Super Bowl at that position until he has been a referee for at least three seasons, while also meeting the five-year minimum service requirement. This has not always been the case. From Super Bowl I to Super Bowl IV, when the game was the "AFL (American Football League)-NFL World Championship Game", the officiating crews consisted of members from both leagues. Then for Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX, the NFL selected the highest rated "crew"
15728535
2012 NFL referee lockout


to $205,000 in 2019. Beginning in 2013, the NFL will have the option of hiring a to-be-determined number of full-time officials to work year-round, including on the field. The NFL will have the option to hire additional officials for training and development and assign them to work NFL games. The lockout was temporarily lifted by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell so that Gene Steratore's crew of regular officials could work the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens on
2183351
Scott Green (American football official)


. Green did not realize that New York's Rich Seubert had lined up legally in a receiver's spot and failed to award a penalty when he was interfered with following an attempted field goal, instead penalizing him. It was later announced that officiating mechanics surrounding field-goal attempts and last plays of games would be changed. He became a referee on a part-time basis during the 2004 NFL season when referee Johnny Grier was injured. Green became a full-time referee at the start of the 2005 NFL season after
21944872
Shawn Hochuli


Shawn Hochuli is a National Football League (NFL) official. He wears uniform number 83. He entered the league in the 2014 NFL season and was promoted for 2018 from back judge to referee, following the retirement of his father, longtime referee Ed Hochuli, and another veteran official, Jeff Triplette. Hochuli played college football at Pitzer College. He worked his first NFL season in 2014 as a side judge. He has also worked as an official in the Pac-12 Conference, Arena Football League, and arenafootball2 games. On
3369738
Mike Carey (American football)


Michael "Mike" Carey (born c. 1949) is a retired American football official in the National Football League (NFL). His uniform number was 94. Prior to his officiating career, he played college football as a running back for Santa Clara University. Carey was a respected official in the NFL for his thorough pre-game preparation, professional demeanor, and fair play. In a poll conducted by ESPN in 2008, Carey tied with referee Ed Hochuli for most "best referee" votes among NFL head coaches.
8991256
Gene Steratore


chosen to be the alternate referee of Super Bowl XLIV, which was held in Miami on February 7, 2010, and was chosen to be the referee for Super Bowl LII, played on February 4, 2018. Steratore was one of two active NFL referees (Bill Vinovich being the other) who also officiated National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball games, which Steratore has done since 1997. Steratore took over briefly as referee during a regular-season game on December 28, 2003, between the
4369695
Seattle Seahawks


has Super Bowl XL at number 8 on its top ten list of games with controversial referee calls. Referee Bill Leavy later admitted that he missed calls that altered the game. Before 2005, Seattle had the longest drought of playoff victories of any NFL team, dating back to the 1984 season. That drought was ended with a 20–10 win over the Washington Redskins in the 2005 playoffs. In the 2009 NFL season, the Seahawks finished 3rd in the NFC West with a 5-11 record. Shortly after his first full season
8690173
List of National Football League awards


—in 1920 to the Akron Pros after winning that season's APFA championship. The trophy was lost soon after, and its whereabouts are unknown. The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was awarded to the champions of the NFL from 1934 (the second scheduled NFL championship game) through 1969, the final NFL championship Game prior to the AFL–NFL merger. It was named in honor of longtime NFL referee, Ed Thorp, who died in 1934. The current location of the trophy is unknown; it is believed the Minnesota Vikings
6120731
2009 NFL season


pink. Banners were hung around league stadiums to raise awareness, and the NFL's website featured a pink background. Referees and coaches hats also had pink accents. In addition, the NFL Referee's Association donated $24,000 to breast cancer charities throughout the month. Also used were pink goal post padding, pink coins, and pink ribbon decals on the field and on footballs. This year's International Series game was played October 25, 2009 at 1:00 pm EDT (5:00 pm local time in London) again at Wembley Stadium
20345949
Shannon Eastin


Eastern Athletic Conference, high school games, and for the Arizona Cardinals Red and White game. Although several NFL players expressed support for Eastin being the first female NFL official, several writers such as Darin Gantt of Profootballtalk.com and Sam Farmer of the "Los Angeles Times" lamented that she broke this gender barrier while being a strikebreaker. The NFL Referees Association also stated that Eastin shouldn't be allowed to officiate NFL games due to her participation in the World Series of Poker. Eastin is also active in judo. At age 11
16623773
1967 NFL Championship Game


an extended period to keep the surface crust broken up. During the game, an elderly spectator in the stands died from exposure. Prior to the game, many of the Green Bay players were unable to start their cars in the freezing weather, forcing them to make alternate travel arrangements to make it to the stadium on time. Linebacker Dave Robinson had to flag down a random passing motorist for a ride. The referees for the game found they did not have sufficient clothing for the cold, and had to make an early
805678
1888 FA Cup Final


game either. So lacking in confidence were their West Bromwich opponents that when offered bets on the outcome of the game by the Preston players, they all refused, no matter how great the odds. West Brom won 2–1, with their goals scored by George Woodhall and Jem Bayliss. Fred Dewhurst scored Preston's effort. John Goodall recalled many years later how, at the final whistle, he stood motionless in the centre circle for many minutes unable to comprehend the result. The refereeing of the game by Major Francis Marindin was
9587554
1996–97 NFL playoffs


, capping off a 25-year career in the NFL that saw him referee two Super Bowls, XX and xxx. The game was featured as one of the "NFL's Greatest Games" as Ambush at Mile High. This game was also the original "Mile High Miracle", which is now more commonly used to describe the 2012 divisional playoff game between the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens. In their first home playoff game in 18 years, the Patriots blew out the Steelers 28–3 with 346 yards of total offense, while
19280386
Association football


", while "lost time" can also be used as a synonym. The duration of stoppage time is at the sole discretion of the referee. Stoppage time does not fully compensate for the time in which the ball is out of play, and a 90-minute game typically involves about an hour of "effective playing time". The referee alone signals the end of the match. In matches where a fourth official is appointed, towards the end of the half the referee signals how many minutes of stoppage time they intend to
10375538
Super Bowl XL


not fined for the remark. In response to the criticisms leveled at the officials, the NFL, just two days after the game, released a statement defending the officials' performance. "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials", NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement. High-profile referee Ed Hochuli said "The Super Bowl was one of those games where it seemed the big calls went against Seattle.
11645960
Ndamukong Suh


won’t be if the NFL will suspend Suh, but when—and for how many games". He drew parallels between Suh's actions and those of Albert Haynesworth, who drew a five-game suspension—the longest suspension for an on-field incident in modern NFL history—for stomping on Andre Gurode's head in 2006. On November 29, the NFL suspended Suh for two games without pay which was $165,294 in lost wages. In announcing the decision, Roger Goodell noted that it was the fifth time
9923689
British American Football Referees' Association


The British American Football Referees' Association (BAFRA) is the organisational body for American Football Referees in Britain. BAFRA is affiliated to the British American Football Association. BAFRA was established in 1984 and provides game officials for American Football games played in the British Leagues. BAFRA officials are eligible to officiate in International Federation of American Football fixtures if selected to do so and in recent years BAFRA has provided personnel for the chain crews at NFL International Series games played at Wembley Stadium. There 8 Board Directors of BAFRA meeting formally four times
8988374
Snooker


in the qualifiers and the first round up to 35 frames in length for the final (first to 18), and is played over two days, extended if necessary until a winner is determined. Professional and competitive amateur matches are officiated by a referee who is the sole judge of fair play. The referee also replaces the colours on the table when necessary and calls out how many points the player has scored during a break. Professional players usually play the game in a sporting manner, declaring fouls the referee has missed,
7651827
Brad Rogers


Brad Rogers is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2017 NFL season, wearing uniform number 126. Rogers began officiating in 1991, working Texas high school football games. From there, Rogers became an official in the Southeastern Conference and Conference USA, where he worked at the center judge and referee positions. In 2015, Rogers worked NFL preseason games as part of the league's Officiating Development Program. Rogers was hired by the NFL in 2017 as a field judge, and was promoted to
12533418
Johnny Grier


Johnny Grier (born c. 1947) is a former American football official for 23 years in the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 2004. He began in the NFL as a field judge before becoming the first African-American referee in the history of the NFL with the start of the 1988 NFL season. Grier has officiated in one Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXII in 1988, which was his last game as a field judge and the same game in which Doug Williams became the first African-American quarterback to
21944976
Penalty (gridiron football)


of a player from the game or a ten-second runoff from the game clock. In college football, the NFL and other professional leagues, and in some high school games, the referee also announces the fouls and their penalties over a wireless microphone to the members of the teams, the crowds in the stands, and viewers/listeners of the televised/radio broadcast of the game. In college and professional football, and high school in some states, the referee will also give out the numbers of the players who
7138017
Deflategate


in Indianapolis. "I wouldn't know how that could even be an advantage or a disadvantage," Jackson said, "I definitely wouldn't be able to tell if one ball had less pressure than another." After Jackson's interception, the team notified NFL Gameday Operations that they "understood that there was a problem with the inflation level of a Patriots football." At halftime, NFL officials inspected the footballs. Former NFL referee Gerry Austin initially, and incorrectly, stated that 11 of the 12 balls used by
19945796
Carl Cheffers


Nemmers and referee Gerald Austin. In his promotion to referee, NFL officiating director Mike Pereira said of Cheffers, "Carl has been extremely successful on the field as a side judge. He is very knowledgeable of the rules, a good rules guy. Strong presence. He was part of Larry Nemmers' crew and he was clearly a crew leader. When we first saw Carl, we saw referee experience from him even though he had refereed basically at the small-college level." In 2010, Cheffers refereed a game
4267196
Deflategate


the claimed original inflation target (a magnitude of pressure loss difficult to account for through environmental factors alone). According to NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino, referees do not log the pressure of the balls prior to the game, or check during the game, and did not do so in this case. Walt Anderson, the referee, gauged the footballs. The Patriots' game balls were re-inflated at halftime to meet specifications and were reintroduced into the game. No issues were raised on the pressure of
19945798
Green Bay Packers


improbable touchdown drive, which culminated when Terrell Owens caught Young's pass between several defenders to give the 49ers a lead with three seconds remaining. Afterwards, the game was mired in controversy. Many argued that during the 49ers game-winning drive, Niners receiver Jerry Rice fumbled the ball but officials stated he was down by contact. Television replays confirmed the fumble, but referees were unable to review the play; the next season the NFL reinstituted an instant replay system. In the end, this game turned out to be the
12381574
Ed Hochuli


skills he learned while working under Roe's guidance, Hochuli desired to become a crew chief in the NFL. He was promoted to referee in 1992 when longtime referee Stan Kemp was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease and forced to retire. Hochuli had worked a pre-season game that year in Tokyo, Japan, as a back judge when he received a telephone call following the game from then-Senior Director of Officiating, Jerry Seeman. Seeman asked Hochuli to work as referee for the first time when the Denver Broncos hosted
3157613
American Gladiators


. The hooded figures that officiated the games were replaced by veteran NFL referee Bob McElwee (No. 95). Starting in Season 2, former Pacific-10 football referee Larry Thompson became the referee. In case of ruling explanations, a host would interview the referee for an explanation. After being based at Universal Studios Hollywood for the first two seasons, production moved to the CBS Studio Center, into a studio that was referred to as "Gladiator Arena", where it stayed for the remainder of the run. Other aesthetic changes
13136077
Gary Lane (gridiron football)


his playing career, Lane was an official in the NFL for 18 seasons from 1982 to 1999, serving as a side judge (1982-1991, 1998-1999) and referee (1992-1997). He retired prior to the start of the 2000 NFL season after failing a physical. As an official, Lane was assigned to Super Bowl XXIII in 1989 and Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 and wore the uniform number 120. He was also the referee of the famous "Fake Spike" game in 1994 where Dan
5223915
History of the National Football League championship


after" the NFL championship game. The NFL now classifies these contests as exhibition games and does not include the records, participants, or results in the official league playoff statistics. The Playoff Bowl was discontinued after the AFL–NFL merger; the final edition was played in January 1970. Starting with the 1934 game the winning team received the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. The trophy was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, and sporting goods dealer. Thorp died in 1934 and a large, traveling trophy
6991059
Bill Carollo


by game officials. The NFL and its game officials eventually agreed on September 19, 2001 to a new six-year Collective Bargaining Agreement that ended a two-week lockout of the regular officials, who returned to work on September 23, 2001. Carollo was also the referee of the Houston Texans' inaugural game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8, 2002. On November 18, 2007, Carollo became the first referee in 35 years to officiate a game for the same team in back-to-back weeks during
15624365
Official (American football)


game. When the NFL began play, only three officials (referee, umpire, and head linesman) were used. The field judge was added in 1929 and the back judge in 1947. In response to scrambling quarterbacks (Fran Tarkenton in particular), the line judge was added in 1965 to watch the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. The side judge was added for 1978, when the NFL implemented new rules to open up the passing game. In 2017, the NFL renamed the head linesman to down judge
8117412
American Gladiators


by former football player Jeff Benson). Then-NFL referee Bob McElwee became the referee for the second half of season one. Larry Thompson (a former Pacific-10 Football referee) took over for season two in 1990 and remained until the series ended in 1996. The referees were assisted by several game judges, including Bob Wucetich, Fred Gallagher and Jim Marcione. Theismann also was the announcer of the first season and was replaced by John Harlan in 1990, who remained with the show through the 1992–1993 season. There was no
13136090
Bob McElwee


1976 as a line judge and became a referee for the start of the 1980 NFL season. He was the referee for three Super Bowls (XXII in 1988, XXVIII in 1994, and XXXIV in 2000) and has officiated in numerous playoff games. McElwee is one of only 6 referees who have officiated 3 or more Super Bowls, along with Norm Schachter, Jim Tunney, Pat Haggerty, Jerry Markbreit and Terry McAulay. He is also the only referee to officiate a Super Bowl in 3 different decades. He was also
16549577
1988 NFL season


to the Los Angeles Rams on tiebreakers. This season marked the final coaching season for the legendary Tom Landry. The season ended with Super Bowl XXIII when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20–16 at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Florida. Johnny Grier became the first African-American in NFL history to be promoted to referee. Grier replaced long time referee Bob Frederic, who retired in the offseason. Grier was the field judge in the previous season's Super Bowl XXII, which was the same game that Doug Williams of
12858277
1975 NFL season


Orange Bowl in Miami. Jerry Seeman, who would go on to serve as referee for Super Bowl XXIII and Super Bowl XXV before a 10-year tenure as the NFL's Director of Officiating from 1991-2001, was hired as a line judge. Fred Swearingen, the referee in the 1972 Raiders-Steelers playoff game which produced the Immaculate Reception, was demoted to his former position, field judge. Gene Barth, the line judge on Jim Tunney's crew the previous four seasons, was promoted. Starting in 1970, through
17386153
Ball (gridiron football)


white and blue panels. The USFL (1983–85) used the same Wilson football the NFL used at the time, with the only differences being the word markings and signature. The World Football League's football was a distinct orange color, said to be more visible during the night as most of that league's games would be played in the evenings. In an NFL game, the home club must have 36 balls for an outdoor game or 24 for an indoor game, and they must be available for the referee to test
5044615
Alliance of American Football


and executive J. K. McKay. Advisers also include former Steelers receiver Hines Ward, former New York Giants and Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck, retired referee and current Fox NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira, and Ebersol's father, retired NBC Sports executive (and co-founder of the original XFL) Dick Ebersol. Ebersol attended the first XFL game in Las Vegas in 2001, and remembered how disappointed his father was by the poor quality of play. To ensure professional-level football at launch, the AAF set out to
5199234
2004 NFL season


a referee in NFL Europe. Metrodome, Minnesota Vikings – AstroTurf was replaced with a new FieldTurf field The Miami Dolphins were the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race, having reached a 1–9 record by week 11. The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season: The Colts led the NFL with 522 points scored. The Colts tallied more points in the first half of each of their games of the 2004 NFL season (277 points) than seven other NFL teams managed in the entire
3591973
1976 NFL season


retired after working the 1976 AFC championship game, and Markbreit was promoted to referee for 1977, where he later became the first (and as of 2018, only) man to serve as the referee for four Super Bowls (XVII, XXI, XXVI and XXIX). Another distinguished new official was Bob McElwee, who was promoted to referee in 1980. McElwee was the referee in Super Bowl XXII, Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIV. Norm Schachter retired after officiating Super Bowl X, his third after previously serving as
17323769
Etu


fighters. There are no precise rules such as how many rounds the fighters have to complete. The Etu fight will be stopped if one of the fighters has fallen or shed blood. Each fight in this form of ceremonial boxing can usually go on for five minutes, depending on each of the fighters' strength. The referees are called "Seka". There are usually 3 "sekas" in the game. Besides referees, there are also officials known as "sike" whose job is to control the fighters from beating
19883156
Ted Valentine


addition to refereeing, Valentine also works part time for the North Charleston Recreation Department. While doing janitorial work in a gym on work-study program in college, Valentine had observed basketball referees and decided he wanted to be a college basketball referee. He talked with some referees about how to get started in the profession, and took a class. He began refereeing at kids games, later moving up to junior high and high school games. In 1981, he attended a refereeing camp in Bristol, Connecticut run by NBA Hall
4678558
NFL Films


$18 billion in revenue that the NFL earns from television alone, most consider this to be minor. The real value of NFL Films is how it packages and sells the game and many credit it as a key reason that the NFL has become the most watched league in the United States. In addition to covering the National Football League, NFL Films has also ventured into other unrelated documentary films, such as documenting the Munich Olympics massacre for one of NBC's Olympics telecasts, and serving as back-up film photography for
10160789
2012 NFL referee lockout


heard one of the refs, he'd only reffed glorified high school games which I don't even know what that means essentially." A "Sporting News" poll of 146 players made during the middle of preseason then found that 90.4 percent of them thought that games would be negatively impacted. Kevin Seifert of ESPN wrote that with the inexperienced replacement referees working the regular season, it is likely that games "will be impacted not by a judgment call—which happens every week of every season—but by an official who
2183376
49ers–Giants rivalry


and the 49ers won, 39-38. The 24 point deficit erased by the 49ers was the second largest deficit ever overcome in a playoff game. In a rare move, the day after the game the NFL issued a formal written apology to the Giants for a bad call by the referees on the final play of the game. The referees, the league ruled, had missed a blatant pass interference penalty against San Francisco that would have nullified another penalty on the Giants, thereby giving the Giants another chance to kick a
21900326
Hank Stram


. In the clip where he asks a referee ""How could all six of you miss that play?"" the referee's response leads the confused Stram to mutter, ""No. What?"" The Super Bowl victory was the second straight by a team from the AFL and added credibility to the newer league, which would complete a planned merger with the NFL the following season. In 1971, the Chiefs won the AFC Western Division championship. The Miami Dolphins defeated the Chiefs on Christmas Day 1971.
17712483
Tony Corrente


three seasons as a back judge, he worked two playoff games including the 1997 NFC Championship Game. Tony also officiated in NFL Europe working the World Bowl in both 1995 (Back Judge) and 1998 (Referee). In 1998, he became a referee after Dale Hamer returned to the head linesman position and Gary Lane returned to the side judge position. Corrente worked the NFC Championship Game in 2001 between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and the 2010 AFC Championship Game between
11861521
1987 NFL season


to Tempe, Arizona, the following season. The eight-year old ESPN cable network became the first cable television broadcaster of the league, with its program "ESPN Sunday Night NFL" (subsequently rebranded as "ESPN Sunday Night Football") debuting on November 8, 1987, broadcasting a series of Sunday night games during the second half of the season. Chuck Heberling retired during the 1987 off-season. He joined the NFL in 1965 as a line judge before being promoted to referee in 1972. Games that he
12858797
Scott Green (American football official)


Scott H. Green is a former American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from the 1991 NFL season until the 2013 NFL season. He had officiated Super Bowls XXXVI in 2002, XXXVIII in 2004, and was the referee for XLIV in 2010. Green was also the head of the NFL Referees Association and led negotiations during the 2012 NFL referee lockout. Outside his part-time work in professional football, Green works as a Washington, D.C. contractor for public safety and criminal justice agencies as part of a firm
21944868
Madden NFL 98


Madden NFL 98 is a 1997 football video game. It features John Madden on the cover. It was the last version of the "Madden" series to be released for the Super NES, Genesis and Sega Saturn platforms, as well as the last Madden game to utilize the 2D sprites for the players and referee, on 3D playing fields. The Green Bay Packers had the best team overall in the game with a 95. The worst team overall was the Baltimore Ravens with a score of 71. A 3 way tie
11427663
Fred Wyant


judge in 1990 and retired from officiating two years later. Wyant is notable for his perspective of the NFL as outlined in Rene A. Henry's book, "Offsides." Wyant was the referee in the 1981 AFC divisional playoff game between Miami and San Diego, a game won by the Chargers, 41-38 in overtime. This game would become known in NFL lore as "The Epic in Miami". Wyant and his wife Dolores, reside in Morgantown, West Virginia. They have three children and three grandchildren.
14320390
Phil Luckett


Lions. Steelers captain Jerome Bettis said he had called "tails", but Luckett insisted that Bettis had called "heads-tails". According to NFL rules, a team's first call is the one the referee will use, and Luckett noted in his game report to the NFL that Bettis was attempting to deceive. The Lions scored a field goal on their first possession of the overtime to win the game. The game tape was later enhanced, and Bettis is clearly heard saying "hea-tails." A
14446674
Jerry Markbreit


suspended for two games by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, the longest suspension for an on-field incident at the time. Years later, Markbreit said that he felt Martin's hit was so far outside the bounds of the game that the only option was an ejection. His move set a precedent; any violent act that is not considered part of the game is grounds for ejection. The call was largely credited by the media and NFL executives in helping Markbreit land the assignment as the referee of Super Bowl XXI two months later
19770652