Football Zebras

2021 was a year of profound loss in the officiating community

Obituary

by Cameron Filipe - December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 0

2021 was a tough year for those with any connection to the NFL officiating community. This year, we lost six former NFL officials, a former replay official who went to lead the college replay operations, and a current official that passed away during the season. As 2021 comes to a

Jim Poole, back judge in 2 Super Bowls, dies at 89

by Mark Schultz - November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 0

Jim Poole, a two-time Super Bowl official and world class athlete, died November 7, at age 89. An NFL officiating career with two Super Bowl assignments makes for an amazing résumé, but pro officiating only scratches the surface of a remarkable athletic life. Poole played basketball and baseball for San Diego State.

Replay official Carl Madsen dies at 71

by Ben Austro - October 25, 2021October 25, 2021 1

http://gty.im/73373855 Carl Madsen 1949-2021 Carl Madsen, a replay official and former umpire, died in Nashville while traveling home from his game assignment on Sunday. He was 71. The Associated Press is reporting that Madsen experienced a medical issue while driving home. Madsen was an umpire on the field from 1997 to 2008, when

Ben Dreith, the longtime NFL referee widely known to common fans, dies at 96

Obituary

by Ben Austro - May 7, 2021December 30, 2021 1

Ben Dreith, the NFL referee known for a no-nonsense demeanor and his idiosyncratic penalty announcements that made him the first household name in NFL officiating, died at his home at the age of 96. He was the oldest living NFL official at the time of his death on April 25,

3-time Super Bowl official Don Hakes passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 1

Don Hakes, a NFL official for 22 years and a three-time Super Bowl field judge and back judge passed away on April 1, 2021 at the age of 87. 2021 has gotten off to a rough start as retired NFL officials Ron Botchan, Bob Boylston and Fred Wyant passed away in

Fred Wyant, NFL referee and line judge for 27 seasons, has passed away

by Mark Schultz - March 23, 2021June 7, 2021 0

Fred Wyant, an all-American quarterback for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, and a NFL official from 1966 to 1992, died on March 20, at the age of 86. In his 27-year career, Wyant worked five playoff games on the field, four at referee: four divisionals and one wild card round. He

Jim Blackwood, former conference officiating coordinator and national replay director, has died

Obituary

by Ben Austro - March 10, 2021March 13, 2021 0

Jim Blackwood, a longtime college coordinator of officials and one of the innovators of the use of replay in college football, has died at the age of 81 after a brief illness. A giant in the officiating world and a mentor to many officials, Blackwood was most recently the national replay

Bob Boylston, 2-time Super Bowl umpire, dies at 81

Obituary

by Ben Austro - January 30, 2021January 31, 2021 0

Robert W. Boylston, 1939-2021 Former NFL umpire Bob Boylston, known for his dry wit delivered in a thick Southern drawl as much as being one of the top umpires in the league, died Thursday at the age of 81. It is the second loss of a highly recognized NFL official at

Ron Botchan, 5-time Super Bowl umpire, passes away at 85

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - January 28, 2021January 29, 2021 0

Ron Botchan, 1935-2021 Ron Botchan, former American Football League player, college football coach, and NFL official passed away this week in California at the age of 85, the NFL Referees' Association announced. Botchan was an umpire for all but one of his 22 NFL seasons from 1980 to 2001. To say he

Former NFL official David Hawk has passed away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - October 28, 2020October 28, 2020 0

David R. Hawk, 1934 - 2020 Former NFL line judge, head linesman and side judge David Hawk passed away in May. Hawk was a NFL official from 1972-1989, and wore number 66 for most of his career. A native of Texas, Hawk went to Southern Methodist University and was captain of the