Tag: official retirement

3 more officials retire, now totaling 6 this offseason

by Mark Schultz - 2

Three more NFL officials have retired from the field, making a total of six officials that have retired in the 2021 off-season. Previously, Bart Longson, Tom Symonette and Ruben Fowler retired. After this weekend's mini-clinic comes news that back judge Steve Freeman, back judge Tony Steratore, and line judge Gary Arthur

3 NFL officials have retired so far

by Mark Schultz - 2

Retiring officials sometimes leave their shoes on the field after their last game. Football Zebras has learned that officials Ruben Fowler, Tom Symonette and Bart Longson will not return to the National Football League in the 2021 season. Typically, the NFL does not announce why an official leaves the league, although

Today’s Pro Bowl the swan song for two NFL officials

by Mark Schultz - 2

Two officials will end their career at today's Pro Bowl in Orlando. While Pro Bowl retirement games meant more when played in Hawaii, it will still be a special moment in Orlando this evening as umpire Jeff Rice and down judge Mike Spanier will work their final game. Mike Spanier Mike Spanier

New union contract contains a retirement incentive for veterans

by Mark Schultz - 1

According to an ESPN report, the NFL will offer a retirement incentive to 22-officials with 20 or more years of experience, provided they retire before the start of the 2020 season.  While we don't expect every official to take the retirement incentive, the upcoming offseason could see the biggest exodus of

How the NFL grooms an official for the referee position

by Mark Schultz - 0

In the past two seasons, we have seen seven NFL officials promoted to referee due to multiple white hat retirements. While we speculate on who will be the next referee promoted, the NFL actually has a Referee Training Program in place to identify, train, and mentor potential referees well before

John Parry, Super Bowl LIII referee, retires

by Mark Schultz - 2

Second straight year for Super Bowl referee to retire John Parry, a three-time Super Bowl official and referee for Super Bowl LIII, has retired. Update: Parry has joined ESPN as the Monday Night Football rules analyst. http://www.footballzebras.com/2019/04/john-parry-to-become-new-espn-rules-analyst/ This marks seven referee retirements in the last two seasons. Walt Coleman and Pete Morelli retired

Week 17 equals the end of a career for some NFL officials

by Mark Schultz - 2

We don't know who, but some NFL officials are working their last regular season game today. We don't have any names to announce as of publishing time, but some might trickle in during the Week 17 games. [Updates below] In the past, network TV named officials that are retiring. The announcers