Embed from Getty Images We pause today to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of NFL referee Tommy Bell. He was born July 2, 1922, and died February 20, 1986, after a long illness. Bell worked in the NFL in 1961 and retired after the 1976 AFC Championship Game. In an
Tag: history
Myth debunked: Referee Ben Dreith actually worked Patriots games after the Sugar Bear Hamilton call
Football Zebras research can debunk a popular myth. After referee Ben Dreith's controversial roughing the passer in the 1976 playoffs -- a penalty against Patriots defensive tackle Ray "Sugar Bear" Hamilton that kept the Oakland Raiders' game-winning drive alive -- the myth is Dreith never worked another Patriots game the
Throwback to 1969 when Jerry Markbreit worked the Ohio State-Michigan Game
Michigan and The Ohio State University face yet again this Saturday with playoff and conference championship implications. Let's throw it back to 1969, when future NFL official, Jerry Markbreit, officiated the annual rivalry between the two power houses. Ohio State was unbeaten and ranked number one in the nation. Michigan had
Throwback to 1980: Officials call an illegal hideout foul in the Eagles-Vikings Divisional Playoff
Throwback to the 1992 playoffs: Referee Dale Hamer roughed up and gained respect from John Madden
New Year’s Eve throwback: Future NFL officials working college bowl games
Throwback to officials and coaches mic’d up
NFL100: 90-year-old rules made for a different game
NFL100: The expansion of officiating crews followed the evolution of the game
NFL100: Before they were zebras, they were … candy canes?
#NFL100: A Football Zebras feature series NFL officials didn't always wear black and white striped shirts. To commemorate the 100th NFL season, Football Zebras takes a look back at how the third team dressed for a game. No stripes to be found (1920-40) At the league's founding, the NFL required its officials to