Football Zebras

Officials used to use a gunshot to signal the end to a quarter or half

by Mark Schultz - December 21, 2018August 13, 2019 0

It seems strange today, but NFL officials used to fire a starter's pistol to end each quarter. It's a mechanic that dated back to the start of pro football up until the NFL discontinued the practice starting in 1994. When the NFL was in its infancy and up through the 1960s,

FJ Fitz Graf, veteran of 4 Super Bowls and Ice Bowl, passes away at 94

by Mark Schultz - December 4, 2017December 5, 2017 0

Frederick "Fritz" Graf, 1922-2017 Former NFL field judge, Fritz Graf, who called four Super Bowls, and was on the field for The Ice Bowl, died November 29, at the age of 94. At the time of his death, we think he was the oldest surviving official. Graf was a native of Akron,

Should NFL officials be allowed to make commercials?

Commentary

by Mark Schultz - July 21, 2017July 20, 2017 5

Commentary by Mark Schultz This past season, line judge Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female official in the NFL, was a spokesperson for Activia yogurt. The commercials told the inspiring story of her journey to the NFL and how she broke the glass ceiling for women to officiate in the pros. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLcrFzI0vlw Thomas

50 Super Bowl calls, Part 1: L to XLI

50 Super Bowl calls

by Football Zebras staff - February 1, 2016February 19, 2016 1

The Football Zebras staff -- with the assistance of our affiliated forum, Behind the Football Stripes -- has examined the Super Bowls of years past for the work of the officials who, in a given year, attain the honor of the best of the best. While every team competes for

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NFL100: When the referee had to rule on things other than football

NFL100: Officials used to use only one ball for a game

NFL100: For half of NFL history, the official time was not on the scoreboard

NFL100: Officials with the longest NFL tenure (30+ seasons)

NFL100: 90-year-old rules made for a different game

Tag: Gene Barth

Officials used to use a gunshot to signal the end to a quarter or half

FJ Fitz Graf, veteran of 4 Super Bowls and Ice Bowl, passes away at 94

Should NFL officials be allowed to make commercials?

50 Super Bowl calls, Part 1: L to XLI