Happy 90th birthday, Jim Tunney!

If you were a fan of the NFL in the 1970s and 1980s, and when there was a marquee game on TV, there was a strong chance that Jim Tunney was the referee. The "Dean of NFL Referees" and the first official to call consecutive Super Bowls, celebrates his 90th birthday

NFL takes a hit after four referee retirements

Embed from Getty Images Every generation of NFL officiating gives way to the next. This past offseason, we saw, very quickly and dramatically, one generation give way to the next. Referees Ed Hochuli, Gene Steratore, Terry McAulay and Jeff Triplette represent 88-years of experience at the referee position. That is 88-years

Zebras out of uniform

This past weekend, NCAA referee Mike Defee and his crew worked in miserable conditions as The Air Force Academy hosted San Diego State (photo of crew in the downpour). Lightning halted the game for 88-minutes, then resumed with a near empty stadium. Defee's crew started in their regular uniform. But after

Burl Toler blazed a trail 50 years ago

Before Al Jury and Bob Beeks were assigned to five Super Bowls. Before Johnny Grier was promoted to referee. Before Mike Carey headed a Super Bowl crew. Before all of them, one man blazed a trail for them. Burl Toler. In 1965, the NFL hired Burl Toler into the NFL as a

4 historic facts related to this year’s Super Bowl crew

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