In Memoriam, 2025

We look back at those in the NFL and college officiating world who passed on in 2025.

Neil Gereb

Dec. 27, 2024. Former NFL line judge and umpire Neil Gereb passed away in December 2024 at age 84, which didn’t reach the officiating community until January. Gereb worked in the NFL from 1981-2001 and wore number 50 for most of his career. He wore number 25 as a line judge in 1981.

During his career, Gereb worked on crews lead by Red Cashion, Dick Jorgensen, Pat Haggerty, Howard Roe, Dick Hantak, Ed Hochuli, Mike Carey, Larry Nemmers and Ron Blum. He worked a total of nine playoff games: six wild card games and three divisional playoff games. He was assigned the Pro Bowl four times, and was an alternate official for Super Bowl XXXI.

He was on Jorgensen’s crew when CBS Sports did a NFL Today feature about the officials.

Off the field, Gereb worked in the aerospace industry, retiring as a project manager for the Department of Defense.

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Merrill Douglas

Merrill Douglas, a former NFL player and official, died on March 1, at the age of 88, just two weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

The Utah native was a star high school football player, who went on to play college football at the University of Utah, ending his collegiate career in the 1957 East-West Shrine Game. After he made his mark in college, as he went on to a five-year NFL playing career with the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

After his playing season, Douglas took up football officiating and his career in the stripes got him back to the NFL in 1981. He was a side judge his entire career and wore number 102. He worked on crews lead by Jerry Markbreit, Fred Silva, Howard Roe and Dick Hantak. During his 11-year NFL career, he worked 147 regular season games and three postseason games: two divisional playoffs and a wild card playoff.

In 1990, Douglas was sidelined for half a season with heart problems. But he returned for the last part of the season and worked the 1991 season before retirement.

Off the field, Douglas worked in the Salt Lake County sheriff’s department.

Merrill Douglas, NFL side judge in the 1980s, passes away

Ed “Bud” Fiffick

Ed Fiffick passed away April 15, at the age of 91. Fiffick worked in the NFL for 21 seasons, from 1979 – 1999. He wore number 57 for most of his career. In 1979 and 1980 he wore number 17.

During his career, he worked 10 playoff games: six wild card games, three divisional playoff games, and one conference championship game. He was also an alternate Super Bowl official on two occasions.

During is 21-year career, he worked on crews lead by Jerry Markbreit, Ben Dreith, Tom Dooley, Gene Barth, Fred Wyant, Tom White, Gordon McCarter, and Dale Hamer.

Off the field, he was a highly accomplished podiatrist, receiving numerous honors for his work. The Ohio native served his country in the Army Reserves and the Air Force Reserves in the Medical Service Corps.

Eddie Kelley

Eddie Kelley, Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Coordinator of Officials passed away in May.

Kelley was SWAC Football Coordinator of Officials since 2019. Previously, he was a SWAC referee, having called five conference championships and three Bayou Classics. He also officiated in the Southland and Pac-12 conferences.

When Kelley was named SWAC officiating boss, conference commissioner, Dr. Charles McClelland said he was a “great fit.” He commented, “His knowledge and experience officiating at the highest levels of collegiate athletics will greatly impact the football officiating within the conference as we look to continue to enhance and build upon the overall foundation.”

Kelley had a presence on the NFL sidelines too. He was the Assistant Kicking Ball Coordinator for the Houston Texans home games.

SWAC coordinator of officials Eddie Kelley passes away

Jon Bible

Jon Bible, a former NCAA and NFL official and a NCAA baseball umpire, has died in July after being diagnosed with cancer in February. He was 75.

Jon Bible, a former NCAA and NFL official and a NCAA baseball umpire, has died after a being diagnosed with cancer in February. He was 75.

Bible got his start umpiring amateur baseball and worked as a minor league umpire from 1970-73. After he got married, he decided against pro umpiring and worked college baseball — a more agreeable lifestyle for the newlywed. He worked seven College World Series and served as NCAA National Coordinator of Umpires from 1990 to 1996.

Bible added basketball and football officiating to his résumé and worked college football in the old Southwest Conference from 1987 to 1993. He joined the NFL as a side judge in 1994 and wore uniform number 40. He worked on crews lead by Gary Lane and Bernie Kukar.

His tenure in the NFL was not a happy one as Jerry Seeman, supervisor of officials, dropped him from the roster after his third season. Bible wrote candidly about this negative experience and honestly assessed his time as a side judge in columns for Referee magazine.

Bible immediately returned to the college ranks and was a referee for the Big 12 Conference. He lead crews in several high profile games, including conference championships. Bible also worked several Bowl games including the 2007 BCS National Championship.

Off the field, Bible was an attorney and taught law and economics at Texas State University.

Former NFL and NCAA official Jon Bible passes away

Scott Edwards

Scott Edwards, a two-time Super Bowl official, passed away “suddenly and peacefully” on September 9, at the age of 66.

Edwards was a NFL official for 23 years — all as either a side judge or field judge. He wore number 3 for his entire career. He joined the NFL in 1999 after spending time working in NFL Europe and in the Atlantic Coast Conference in college. Over the years, he served on crews lead by Tom White, Bernie Kukar, Gerald Austin, Bill Carollo, John Parry, Ron Torbert and Clete Blakeman.

Edwards had a very strong playoff record, working on the field 19 times in 23 seasons. He worked 3 wild card games, 11 divisional playoffs, 3 conference championships and Super Bowls 50 and LII.

Off the field, Edwards held degrees in geology and environmental engineering, and did government contract work with several companies.

Retired NFL official Scott Edwards dies at 66

Don Carlsen

Don Carlsen, a 24-year official mostly as a side judge, passed away October 25 at the age of 79. The Chico, California, resident worked in the NFL from 1989-2012 and wore number 39 his entire career.

Carlsen attended Chico State University where he played football, baseball and rugby. After graduating, he began officiating, working his way up through the ranks to the Pac-10 conference. He worked line judge in the Pac-10 and worked at the referee position in small college games.

After one year working as a line judge, the NFL moved Carlsen to side judge in 1990 and he stayed in that position the rest of his career. The NFL was short of side judges in 1990 and Carlsen volunteered to move. In 24 years, Carlsen worked with many outstanding referees, including Jerry Markbreit, Pat Haggerty, Dick Hantak, Bernie Kukar, Ron Blum, Tony Corrente, Bill Leavy, Ed Hochuli, Mike Carey, and Pete Morelli.

While he never reached the Super Bowl, Carlsen was the Super Bowl XLVI alternate. In 24 seasons, Carlsen worked 19 playoff games on the field: seven wild card games, six divisional playoff games and three conference championships. He was also two-time Pro Bowl official with the 2013 contest his retirement game.

Off the field, Carlsen was an accountant eventually rising to superintendent of finance with the Butte County Office of Education. He served as president of the Chico State Alumni Association and served on alumni boards for Chico State football and rugby.

Former NFL official Don Carlsen passes away

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Time is still undefeated. Our sympathies to all who knew these officials and loved them.