Ron Winter
- Referee: 14 – Ron Winter
- Umpire: 81 – Roy Ellison
- Head Linesman: 24 – Tom Stabile
- Line Judge: 68 – Tom Stephan
- Field Judge: 50 – Mike Weir
- Side Judge: 97 – Tom Hill
- Back Judge: 37 – Jim Howey
Ronald J. “Ron” Winter, M.A. a National Football League referee. His number is 14 (it was 82 from 1995-1997).
He entered the NFL as a line judge in 1995, and later was promoted to referee in 1998.
Outside of his NFL officiating duties, Winter is a college professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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Awful calls today!!! You made up calls as you wanted and absolutely sucked it up this week. Paid or just taking orders???
Ron Winters phantom call of tripping against the Vikings was complete BS. Let the players play the game. Dugan made a block and then went to the ground. Fine this ref for making up calls at critical times in the game. Yes I’m a Viking fan but I’d be upset with this call even if it wasn’t against my team.
Winters did it again against Miami on a 62 yard completion for a TD against Houston yesterday. Not only would this TD have closed the gap against in the Texans lead, but to call it at this point in the game was beyond questionable. IT WAS COMPLETE BULLSHIT>>>SO GO FUCK YOURSELF RON!!!!
Never been to Western Michigan, but I will look you up if I am ever there you FUCKING COWARD!! Tripping by Lou Polite on this call? Like I said go fuck yourself you coward for making this phantom call that even the CBS announcers were flabbergasted at!!
I would really have liked that touchdown to count for the vikings! It wasn’t tripping, but I guess you’ll find that out later. Other than that I think you are doing a good job refereeing.
Dear Ron,
there was absolutely no clipping on the Vikings against the Steelers. You and your crew have made several terrible calls. I hope you are fired, you are an awful referee.
How dare you consider yourself a referee? you are a complete waste of space. I hope you are fired and fined for your game-changing call.
Wow! Your bad calling cost the vikings the game!
Absolutely the worst calls i have ever seen. Those incompetent fools literally stole the game from the vikings with that tripping call.
How much were you paid on the side for those calls? Wow.
how do you live with yourself making those calls? your crew is by far the worst officiating crew in the nfl hope your referee crew as comes to end after blowing calls thanks alot ron
Being an official for 22 years, I cannot believe they would call tripping on a cross block. I was always taught to see the whole play. This was a big mistake and the official should be officatiating midget football.
I am a steelers fan and it is hard to be happy about a win that had so many bad calls – those calls prolly won it for my team -but what my real question is –
do the refs live in the home town the games are played in ? as my room mate claims – or are they from some other city to keep them unbiased – I noticed that ron is a college professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. which makes me believe he does not live in p-burg – any feedback on this matter will be appreciated
Ron Winter is the same ref who gave Tom Brady the roughing calls he begged for…keep watching him for game-changing calls…it’s gonna happen, folks!
That’s why sites like this help to keep these guys honest, but doesn’t seem to help in the case of Ron Winter…
Pittsburgh has a good team but I am so disappointed with the officials.
Hello Mr. Ron Winters,
I can not explain my anger with you today. Tripping?! I hate to wish this on you, but I hope you lose your job. We would have not lost today if it wasn’t for all the bad calls. What makes me upset is they let you get away with horrible calls like this! I hope it bites you in the ass.
First of all, Amra…its Winter. If you are going to be funny about it, get it right. I agree it was a crap call, but every ref makes crap calls (except for perhaps Steratore, who is, in my opinion, the best ref the NFL has)
Both Pitt and Minn played well, and yes, while the call might have changed the game, we’ll never know. For the Viking fans, look to the Super Bowl, because the two teams that played today, have a great chance to meet at the end of the year. (and chances are, Winter will be watching the game from the warmth of his Kalamazoo, Michigan home)
There are no excuses for the bad calls that Winter and his team made today. I wish I could say it was just one call, but it wasn’t…there were several. The tripping call was by far the worst, and possibly cost the Vikings the game. I could care less who won, I am a fan of neither team, which makes this even tougher to see.
I realize that not every call will be made perfectly, I am an official myself. However, certain calls such as the tripping call that ended up costing Minnesota a guaranteed 6 need to be made right. Winter I would certainly hope you and your crew realize the mistakes you made and apologize, or at the very least don’t make them again.
Absolutely the worst and most obviously bribed ref in sports.
First the Ravens Patriots and now the Vikings Steelers.
This game also reminded me of the Steelers Seahawks superbowl
Hey Ron, you totally screwed the Vikes on Sunday. Nice try not giving the obvious catch to rice on the sideline. That should have been the first signal of a fix. Then you cause a 14 point swing in the game with the bs tripping call. Jared Allen held all game long. I do not mind losing to a good team like the steelers, but at least let the teams determine the outcome. I hope the Vikings are able to not have you and your worthless crew officiate anymore of their games for the next four years like the Giants did. Remember that debacle? I hope your lacky who Dugan steamrolled on the kickoff return has a headache today. You suck!!!!
You know its bad when Football Night in America even does a spot light on your awful calls. You robbed the Vikings of a probable win, in game that was well played on both sides. In the sprit of competition how does that make you feel?
Go view the tape. You need to be held accountable for such poor work on Sunday. I feel fines are in order.. it was so obvious that you were one sided in this game. IT’S NOT right and the NFL shouldn’t stand for it!
When looking at referee assignments, I know when you see certain guys names, you know that they will play factor in game in some way. Ron Winter is definitely one of those guys.
As Steeler fan though, I don’t understand how the viking fans can complain that the officiating lost them the game. Lets not forget the phantom offensive pass interference on Heath Miller away from the ball early in the game that brought a touchdown back. I think the tripping call made up for that earlier call. Both calls called back touchdowns. Besides that what else was there?
How could you call that pass interference on Heath Miller? That was a game changing play! You need to be fired!
Ron Winter, you idiot! You negated the Vike’s TD because of a bogus tripping call and then continued to make bad calls against them. Sure, no where on ESPN this morning were there highlights of you and your terribly officiated calls, only Favre’s two mistakes at the end (in my opinion due to the huge momentum swing from being robbed of a TD and then set back on third and goal). Yes, you and your crew decided this game and now that I’m doing research I see you’ve done this to many other teams before as well. I don’t see why they can’t just fire your ass. I mean, three strikes and your out or something. C’mon!
I know Vikings fans are pissed about the tripping call… (personally I think it’s judgement… since I think they recently changed the rules on what considers tripping…)
Why don’t you guys also mention the pass interference against Heath in the first half? If the ball wasn’t passed towards the incident, how was there any interference if there weren’t any passes?! (that’s 4 points for the Steelers! 7 minus 3) If Vikings drove and got a TD, steelers would have lost by 4, how was that just?!
Anyway, the first moment I saw Ron Winter in the game I smelled shit… and it turned out to be shit
What’s this, The Steelers benefitting from questionable officiating leading to a win? Hmmm…
Actually, this has happened so many times since the 70’s (Super Bowl XL being the most blatant example.) that a lot of people wonder if The NFL has been putting the fix in for them.
Last week, 9 yards = first down and now this stuff…
Ron Winter’s crew…that’s two bad games in a row. Zig-Zagging on spots, and another horrendous call by Ron Winter himself. Tripping? Are you kidding me? And how come the roughing the passer calls that you gave to Tom Brady were not in play this week? Read: Inconsistency! A number of minus threes this week! No post season for you guys! I hope you get to visit Cleveland, Buffalo and Green Bay in December! Can’t wait to read what happens should the NFL send you to Baltimore and Minnesota!
Dear ron,
I am a viking fan. yesterday you robbed us of the game by your idiotic calling. Tripping? defensive delay of game?? this isn’t the first game you’ve ruined. I really hope the nfl fires you. YOU SUCK.
Ron. Hang in there. Nobody’s perfect. You called what you thought you saw–tripping or not. What bothers me is the armchair refs in the NBC booth or on the couches at home who see the replay over and over and realize a call was made in error. You’re a fair ref and these guys are just badmouthing you. You wouldn’t have been around this many years in the NFL if you weren’t good at what you do…and your crew as well.
How does a team (Pittsburgh) only get 3 penalties for 15 yards and no holding calls against a very good defense? How is this possible? Does anybody know?
Tom. The Steelers got no holding calls because they’re one of the NFL’s favorite Teams and that’s been the case since the 70’s. The Steelers get away with more holding and blocks in the back than just about any team you care to mention.
I wasn’t trying to be funny about anything, apologies on my typo.
Ron Winter gives Mike Carey a run for his money as the worst referee in the NFL. Neither referee ever looks like he has control of the game, and each has made too many game-changing calls.
is it me or every wk winters makes up a new phatom rule or call to insure the game does not go over the total??? at least 1 in minn-pitt game.. and 2 in yesterdays bears-sf game
9er fan – As for your comment, Yes the Vikings would have won that game since that was 7 points the vikings would of had with that TD pass to Rice but was called a tripping call on our tight end on a block that even Tony Dungy said “That was the way we teach them to throw that block, that was a text book block!”
This is not the first time this ref and his crew has cause a game to turn around. Since you are a 49ers fan you should remember the 2003 play off game that Winter’s was the ref for? His crews calls gave the 9ers the win that day.
Many people agree this was one of the worest games for calls. That perferct catch called out of bounds when the catch was made almost 2 yards in bounds and was easy to see and the ref was standing 2 to 3 yards from the play. The Vikings had to waste a red flag because of a play that should of been called right.
The Steelers did play a good game but if that TD to Rice would have counted the next play (Favre being stripped of the football) would not have happened. The score at that time would of been 17-13 Vikings and not 20 – 10 Steelers.
Ron no doubt in my mind the vikings would be undefeated as of week 10 if it wasn’t for your absolultely ridiculous calls in the steelers vikings game. tripping? really really? what were you thinking obviously a bad call maybe watch the play before you make bad calls during a game i hate you and you should be fired asap you old washed up *******
Amen Nick Amen!
I’ve been noticing how the steelers always seem to win, and today was apparent as to why…these officials gave them,…. just like always the game…c’mon with that tripping call…that was bogus. Yet another ref deciding the games…argh, that’s just horrible. We know how desperate your finances are with a wild judgement call as such. Why even bother with the NFL, we’d probably be better off out-sourcing them too. It’s so funny intentional tripping…what is that! Just another loser…I hope his record sucks as bad as he refs….what trash there is…with all the technology in the world and as plain as the brown nose on his face, he couldn’t review 2 bad calls on the field. NO INTEGRITY…
LMAO
You guys typing all these comments. Like the NFL cares what you think.
Your comments and a quarter will get you a phone call.
There should be an official NFL referees page, where fans can ask for the lifetime ban of Ron Winter.
WTF on the IM Comp pass it was clearly a fumble, REF YOU SUCK REF YOU SUCK
Has this guy been fired yet? I refuse to even watch the games that he refs in. I feel like he just wants to be on camera. He makes so many calls and half are ridiculous or just plane bad. It doesn’t feel like football when he refs. If he has not already been fired and there is a petition or an official site where people could recommend him to a high school team or something please let me know; I would be very interested. Also, another thought; Football players get fined for talking back to refs and or stupid stuff like to much celebration in the end zone. HELLO. If you got a touchdown in the NFL wouldn’t you be dancing? If football players get fined for bad hit and such why doesn’t the league fine refs for bad calls? Or imply a three strikes your out rule? Then he would have been gone long before 2010 or 2009. The NFL needs a more comprehensive replay system. We have the technology and the ability, but apparently not the wisdom.
i’m pretty sure refs do get fined, you just don’t hear about it.
GREAT!!!! The Saints get the shaft……AGAIN!!!! Ron Winter and his crew will no doubt screw up this game. Why Why Why? Why do the Saints have to get this guy? Ahhh I just hope my beloved Saints can have a big enough lead going into the final minutes, so that Winter cannot botch it. WHO DAT>!>!>!
You’ve got to be KIDDING me…NFL gave this guy a PLAYOFF game to screw up???
Unbelieveable!!
Do not worry Kevin…. The bad calls will end up being on the Cards not the team Winter’s wants to win
We should be seeing the Vikes vs the Saints for NFC champs I believe. Romo will fall apart next week. He has played to well the past 4 weeks lol.
How the hell, did Winter make the playoffs. He was so bad week in week out.
Ron Winter is the best referee
if best is worst, then ok.
he’s terrible. did you not see az@no today
or the balt-ne week 4… or week 7 minn-pitt?
every assignment he gets should be like his week 8, when he got Rams-Lions.
all ruined by him and his crew.
Ron Winter is the absolute worst referee on the planet!!! The guy can’t articulate his thoughts at all let alone make a good call. He sounds like a bumbling idiot out there. GENE STERATORE, now there’s a commanding presence!!!
Wow…what a bunch of whiny, snot-nosed little children, crying because their favorite team lost. Blame the officials, that’s the way to go. Don’t blame your crappy team for putting themselves in the position they were in to lose by a few points. Good teams win by many points, not a single scoring drive.
But, no, it’s the referee. It’s his fault. Not your receivers. Not your running backs. Not your quarterback. Not your blockers. Not your coaching staff. Blame the guys in the zebra shirts. *they* cost your team the game. It’s not your lack of ability to execute. It’s not your poor play-calling It’s not your bad blocking. It’s not your receivers who can’t catch or run a pattern. Nope, it’s the zebra. It’s NEVER your team’s fault that your team lost. It was the zebra whose ‘bad’ call had your team lose.
I wonder why you little children are so hostile about your team losing a game. My guess is you bet the mortgage payment and now you have to explain to your wife where the money went. Or you’ll need to come up with some cash to cover your bookie.