Torbert, Cheffers, Martin, and Hochuli are Divisional Playoff referees

Football Zebras has confirmed the referees for the Divisional Playoffs. Officials are listed with their uniform number, years of NFL experience (including this season), the crew each official worked with in the regular season (by the referee’s name), college, and outside occupation.

All times are Eastern.

This year, the NFL has moved to five alternates for the early postseason rounds, up one from previous years. The alternate officials are a referee, an umpire, a line of scrimmage official (down judge or line judge), a deep wing official (field judge or side judge), and a back judge.

The prior playoff experience that is listed for the crew chief includes his service as an NFL official, including as referee and any other crew position (excluding alternate assignments). Also of note, the eventual Super Bowl officials are on the field for this weekend’s games, but not all are from the same crew.

We saw alternates take the field in the Wild Card Playoff round, so as always, scheduled assignments are subject to change due to the pandemic.

Saturday, Jan. 16

NFC Divisional: Rams at Packers, 4:35 p.m. Fox

Ron Torbert is the referee, who is in his 11th season and 7th as referee. This is Torbert’s 8th postseason assignment, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs and 5 Divisional Playoffs.

			Yrs	2020 crew	College	Occupation
R	62	Ron Torbert	11		Michigan State	attorney
U	131	Mark Pellis	7	Torbert	Allegheny	financial advisor
DJ	37	Tripp Sutter	2	Clark	Nebraska	biopharmaceutical rep
LJ	59	Rusty Baynes	11	Boger	Auburn-Montgomery	general manager, safety services
FJ	95	James Coleman	16	Torbert	Arkansas	electrical engineer
SJ	120	Jonah Monroe	6	Torbert	Arkansas	engineer
BJ	38	Greg Yette	11	Torbert	Howard	defense contractor

• Replay official: Saleem Choudhry
• Replay assistant: Dexter McNabb
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • Umpire: Bryan Neale
  • Line of scrimmage: Danny Short (DJ)
  • Deep wing: Terry Brown (FJ)
  • Back judge: Tony Josselyn

AFC Divisional: Ravens at Bills, 8:15 p.m. NBC

Carl Cheffers is the referee, who is in his 21st season and 13th as referee. This is Cheffers’ 14th postseason assignment, including 5 Wild Card Playoffs, 6 Divisional Playoffs, 2 Conference Championships, and Super Bowl LI.

			Yrs	2020 crew	College	Occupation
R	51	Carl Cheffers	21		California-Irvine	sales manager
U	11	Fred Bryan	12	Blakeman	Northern Iowa	superintendent, juvenile correctional facility
DJ	134	Ed Camp	21	Hill	William Paterson	physical education teacher
LJ	24	David Oliver	4	Novak	Baker	information systems manager
FJ	25	Ryan Dickson	4	Corrente	Utah	commercial real estate developer
SJ	117	John Jenkins	7	Novak	St. Mary’s	sales executive
BJ	78	Greg Meyer	19	Rogers	Texas Christian	banker

• Replay official: Mike Wimmer
• Replay assistant: Brian Uhrmacher
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • Umpire: Paul King
  • Line of scrimmage: Patrick Holt (DJ)
  • Deep wing: Scott Edwards (SJ)
  • Back judge: Rich Martinez

Sunday, Jan. 17

AFC Divisional: Browns at Chiefs, 3:05 p.m. CBS

Clay Martin is the referee, who is in his 6th season and 3rd as referee. This is Martin’s 2nd postseason assignment, and his first as referee. His first assignment, a Wild Card Playoff, was as an umpire.

			Yrs	2020 crew	College	Occupation
R	19	Clay Martin	6		Oklahoma Baptist	high school administrator
U	81	Roy Ellison	18	Hussey	Savannah State	IT engineer
DJ	6	Jerod Phillips	5	Rogers	Northeastern State	elementary school teacher
LJ	84	Mark Steinkerchner	27	Smith	Akron	vice president
FJ	118	David Meslow	10	Vinovich	Augsburg College	sales executive
SJ	56	Allen Baynes	13	Hussey	Auburn	realtor
BJ	12	Greg Steed	18	Hill	Howard	computer systems analyst

• Replay official: Matt Sumstine
• Replay assistant: Chris Scott
• Alternates:
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • Umpire: Dan Ferrell
  • Line of scrimmage: Mark Perlman (LJ)
  • Deep wing: Boris Cheek (SJ)
  • Back judge: Terrence Miles

NFC Divisional: Buccaneers at Saints, 6:40 p.m. Fox

Shawn Hochuli is the referee, who is in his 7th season and 3nd as referee. This is Hochuli’s 5th postseason assignment, including a Wild Card Playoff and 4 Divisional Playoffs.

			Yrs	2020 crew	College	Occupation
R	83	Shawn Hochuli	7		Claremont	financial advisor
U	77	Terry Killens	2	Martin	Penn State	campus security specialist
DJ	53	Sarah Thomas	6	Hochuli	Mobile	sales representative
LJ	68	Tom Stephan	22	Blakeman	Pittsburg State	retired business broker
FJ	50	Aaron Santi	6	Wrolstad	Southern Oregon	middle school principal
SJ	103	Eugene Hall	7	Rogers	North Texas	federal agent
BJ	105	Dino Paganelli	15	Smith	Aquinas College	educator

• Replay official: Roddy Ames
• Replay assistant: Alton James
• Alternates:
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • Umpire: Bruce Stritesky
  • Line of scrimmage: Mark Stewart (LJ)
  • Deep wing: Rick Patterson (FJ)
  • Back judge: Greg Wilson