Football Zebras

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

by Mark Schultz - November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 03118

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 rÃ©sumÃ©, but pro officiating only scratches the surface of a remarkable athletic life. Poole played basketball and baseball for San Diego State.

3-time Super Bowl official Don Hakes passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - April 5, 2021April 5, 2021 14962

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 04099

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

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

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - January 28, 2021January 29, 2021 05122

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 03089

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

Former NFL official Bill Swanson passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - October 7, 2020October 8, 2020 03109

William "Bill" Swanson, 1925 - 2020 Former NFL line judge, umpire and back judge Bill Swanson died on August 20, 2020, at the age of 94. Swanson wore number 38 for most of his NFL career. Swanson worked in the NFL from 1965 to 1985. He worked on the field for 13 playoff

Ed Merrifield, Super Bowl XXVI field judge, passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 02951

https://gty.im/79552728 Edwin J. "Ed" Merrifield, 1932 - 2020 Ed Merrifield, a Super Bowl and conference championship official, passed away this past February 16. A Missouri native, Merrifield worked in the NFL from 1975 to 1994 on crews lead by Tommy Bell, Jerry Markbreit, Bob McElwee, Gene Barth, Jim Tunney, Howard Roe, and Ron

Nate Jones, 22-year NFL official, passes away

by Mark Schultz - December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 15008

Nathan L. Jones, 1938-2019 Nate Jones, a NFL deep wing official from 1977 to 1998 passed away on Nov. 1 at the age of 81. He is is not related to the former NFL player and current official Nate Jones.Â Jones broke into the NFL in 1977 as a line judge on

Howard Roe, 13-year line judge and referee passes away

Obituary

by Mark Schultz - December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 14425

Howard Roe, 1939-2019 Howard S. Roe, a NFL line judge and referee from 1984 to 1996 died last month at the age of 80 at his home in Castle Rock, Colorado. Roe wore uniform number 33 for his entire career. He became a referee in 1989 and abruptly left the NFL

Banks Williams, Super Bowl XXV official, has passed away

by Mark Schultz - July 8, 2019July 8, 2019 03779

Banks Boothe Williams, 1932-2019 Banks Williams, an NFL back judge (the position name is now the field judge) from 1978 to 1994 passed away in April at the age of 86. Williams, a Texas native, wore uniform number 99 for most of his career. Wlliams got started in officiating in the 1960s,