The Football Zebras staff -- with the assistance of our affiliated forum, Behind the Football Stripes -- has examined the Super Bowls of years past for the work of the officials who, in a given year, achieve the honor of the best of the best. While every team competes for
Tag: Super Bowl XL
R Bill Leavy retires after 20 seasons
Football Zebras exclusive View image | gettyimages.com Football Zebras has learned from two sources that Bill Leavy, an official in the NFL since 1995, wearing number 127, is stepping aside after 20 years to take the northeastern regional supervisor position for the officiating department, where he will observe other officials and grade
U Garth DeFelice leaves field for regional supervisor post
Veteran's move leaves 11 vacancies for 2014 Football Zebras exclusive Football Zebras can report that umpire Garth DeFelice will leave the field and become one of the regional supervisors for the officiating office. The supervisors have traditionally been the graders that evaluate the game tapes for accuracy in the officials' calls. This
Ref gets rematch of his ‘XL’ mistakes
Rarely does an assignment of a referee get a post of its own. The elements of irony either missed or intentionally ignored by the officiating department elevates one particular assignment to newsworthy status. Bill Leavy, the referee in Super Bowl XL (2005 season) between the Steelers and the Seahawks, will officiate
Leavy says he’s haunted by Super Bowl XL calls
With an unbelievable amount of candor, referee Bill Leavy admitted that he made game-changing mistakes when he officiated Super Bowl XL in February 2006—mistakes that helped propel the Steelers over the Seahawks. It was immediately branded as one of the worst called Super Bowls in history. The Seattle Times ran a