Garth DeFelice named 2026 Art McNally Award recipient

Garth DeFelice, former NFL umpire and current officiating coach coordinator, was presented with the 2026 Art McNally Award at the league’s annual officiating clinic. The Art McNally Award, having now been presented for a quarter-century, is named after the former head of officiating from 1968 to 1990 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductee.

The award recognizes an official for exemplary professionalism, leadership and commitment to sportsmanship on and off the field.

“Art was a great man,” DeFelice told Football Zebras. “Having known him, how much he and the award bearing his name mean to everyone in officiating, I am humbly overwhelmed by this recognition.”

DeFelice, 72, an official in the NFL from 1998 to 2013 wore the number 53 during his 16-year NFL career. During that time, DeFelice worked 232 regular season games and 13 postseason games, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs, 8 Divisional Playoffs, and the 2010 AFC Championship Game. He was the umpire for Super Bowl XL at the end of the 2005 season. His final game was the 2013 AFC Divisional Playoff between the Colts and Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Surprisingly, DeFelice worked most of his career on artificial knees, having a double knee replacement surgery in 2000, and successfully passing his physical a few months later.

After retiring from the field, DeFelice replaced former umpire Ed Coukart as an officiating supervisor in the league office. While responsibilities have evolved over the years, the supervisors, now referred to as “coach coordinators”, have traditionally been the graders that evaluate the game tapes for accuracy in the officials’ calls.

While in the supervisor position, DeFelice upgraded the mechanics of the umpire position. He is the first umpire supervisor to have worked in the offensive backfield after the NFL relocated the position from the defensive second level in 2010. He was instrumental in providing support for personal fouls involving hits on the quarterback after several high-profile calls and non-calls. Umpires were actually chastised for making such calls in the past, but DeFelice insisted that, for a split second, holding calls should take a backseat to fouls on the quarterback when contact is imminent. The umpire now will throw a flag or discuss an erroneous flag with the referee by adding the perspective of the opposite angle.

During his on-field career, DeFelice was known for his toughness over the years, and he did not tolerate any disrespect towards the opponents or the officials. He is widely remembered for his involvement in a play during a Week 16, 2008 game in St. Louis, the former home of the Rams. When Rams running back Kenneth Darby came up the middle, right at DeFelice who was stationed in the traditional umpire position, DeFelice extended his forearm out, knocking Darby to the ground where he was touched down.

Two years later, DeFelice ejected 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith for shoving him during a post-play skirmish, and color commentator and former player and team executive Matt Millen noted that DeFelice is not one to back down from confrontation. This no-nonsense demeanor earned him respect throughout the league.

Congratulations to Garth DeFelice on this well-deserved honor.

* awarded posthumously