Former umpire Chad Brown has died, after battling a long illness. The 23-year veteran wore number 31, and was assigned to Super Bowl XXXV and XLV.
Obituary
Umpire Chad Brown has died at age 69
by Ben Austro • • 3 Comments
Tag: Jerry Markbreit
50 Super Bowl calls
50 Super Bowl calls, Part 3: XXX to XXI
by Football Zebras staff •
They may be good calls, questionable calls, or controversial calls. There are unusual rules interpretations or circumstances. There are moments where officials were tested, where judgements had to be made, where the fortune of an entire season hangs in the balance. We’ve cracked the Top 30. Which call will be number one?
50 Super Bowl calls
50 Super Bowl calls, Part 1: L to XLI
by Football Zebras staff •
They may be good calls, questionable calls, or controversial calls. There are unusual rules interpretations or circumstances. There are moments where officials were tested, where judgements had to be made, where the fortune of an entire season hangs in the balance. We begin our list of 50 Super Bowl calls with the first ten.
Follow-up, History, Mechanics
The coin toss: What could go wrong?
by Mark Schultz •
It is a simple procedure. The game can’t begin without it. Before any football game starts the referee has to decide who gets the ball first. For generations, that question has been decided by the coin toss. The procedure is the same from pee-wee games to the NFL. First of all, it is important for…
Profiles
Happy birthday Jerry Markbreit
by Mark Schultz •
View image | gettyimages.com Most famous referee of the 1980s and 1990s turns 80 years old Before there was Ed Hochuli, there was Jerry Markbreit. The former NFL referee from 1976 to 1998 turned 80 years old today. Markbreit got his start officiating while a college student at the University of Illinois. He officiated intramural…
Profiles, Week 1
‘Double-rookie’ ref Allen impresses in debut
by Mark Schultz •
Brad Allen works his first-ever NFL game as a referee Referee Brad Allen (number 122) made history this past Sunday as he worked his first-ever game in the NFL at the referee position. His first game was at Soldier Field in Chicago, as the Bears hosted the Buffalo Bills. He’s jokingly referred to as the “double rookie” by…
News
Brad Allen named crew chief in 1st NFL season
by Mark Schultz •
Brad Allen is the first official in almost 50 years to be placed in the referee position in his first NFL season.
News
NFL may have to change the way it appoints referees
by Mark Schultz •
Vital proving grounds for white hat candidates no longer exist Commentary by Mark Schultz The NFL could be having a white hat problem in the next few years. Several referees have put in 20 or more years of service, meaning that their retirement window is starting to open. There are at least four referees now…
News
4 historic facts related to this year’s Super Bowl crew
by Mark Schultz •
I enjoy historic aspects of NFL officiating and as we get ready to zebra watch in Super Bowl XLVIII here are some interesting nuggets regarding officiating in the Super Bowl. Field judge Scott Steenson sets the record for most years between return trips. Steenson worked Super Bowl XXXI, and makes his return 17 years later.…
Calls, Rules School, Week 2
No rule to help home team on fan’s whistle
by Ben Austro and Mark Schultz •
49ers at Seahawks (video/audio) Early in the game, the Seahawks fell victim to a fan who blew a whistle in the crowd — their own home crowd. Some of the Seahawks linemen looked genuinely confused, as they believed it was an official’s whistle. The center snapped the ball anyway, and the Seahawks line, still in…