NFL Refs

NCAA and NFL Referee news

  • Home
  • NFL Refs
    • Adrian Hill
    • Alex Kemp
    • Bill Vinovich
    • Brad Allen
    • Brad Rogers
    • Carl Cheffers
    • Clay Martin
    • Clete Blakeman
    • Craig Wrolstad
    • Jerome Boger
    • John Hussey
    • Ronald Torbert
    • Scott Novak
    • Shawn Hochuli
    • Shawn Smith
    • Tony Corrente
    • Walt Anderson
  • By Season
    • 2019 Crews
    • 2018 Crews
    • 2017 Crews
    • 2016 Crews
    • 2015 Crews
    • 2014 Crews
    • 2013 Crews
    • 2012 Crews
    • 2011 Crews
    • 2010 Crews
    • 2009 Crews
    • 2008 Crews
    • Retired NFL Referees
  • NCAA Refs
    • Retired NCAA Referees
  • Contact

Bill Leavy apologizes for mistakes in 2006 Super Bowl

August 10, 2010 By jon

A few years too late, Bill Leavy has apologized for mistakes he made in the 2006 Super Bowl though he hasn’t said exactly which calls he is referring to.

There are a handful of calls that are in dispute, but none that were outlandishly bad as we’ve seen in a variety of games in recent years.  Here’s a good clip that covers most of them from Super Bowl XL:

What do you think?  Which calls is he referring to?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

NFL Playoffs: Referee Assignments

January 4, 2010 By mike

There’s only four games this week for the wild card weekend, let us know who you find out is officiating this weekend.

The full playoff/pro bowl/super bowl listing will be posted as we find them out. View here.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

How do they choose the officials for the NFL playoffs?

January 11, 2009 By jon

Note: The following is a guest post from Football-Refs reader Barry

———-

I have followed the assignment of referees to the playoffs since 1985 and all officials since 2002.  While I don’t have all the answers and have never verified this with anyone in authority, here is my version of how it is done.  It is based upon my complete records since 2002 and comments by Mike Pereira to the NFL Network on the December 30 “Official Review.”  If you have other information, please let me know.

Up to and including the 2002 season, all officials were assigned as individuals to all-star crews for all of the playoff games.  Presumably, the highest-rated official at each position worked the Super Bowl.  Each one also worked one playoff game.

For the 2003 and 2004 seasons, officials were basically assigned by regular season crews, with substitutions for rookie officials and (perhaps) low-rated ones.  Eight such crews were assigned to the wild card and divisional playoff games.  Then two of these crews, with some substitutions from the other six playoff crews, also worked the conference championships.  Every official in the conference championships also worked in the wild card or divisional playoffs.  As before, the best official at each position worked the Super Bowl.  Every one had worked at least one playoff game, and in a couple of instances (if they were on the right crew) they had worked two.

This is the fourth year of the present system, and I think it works like this:

  • The eight highest-rated crews are assigned to the wild card and divisional playoffs, but substitutions are made in three instances: 1) rookie officials; 2) officials who are rated third- or second-best at their position; 3) poorly-rated officials.  They are replaced by officials with good ratings from the other nine crews that are not assigned to these rounds.
  • The two crews for the conference championships are all-star crews and consist of the third- and second-rated officials at each position.  None of these officials have worked in the previous two rounds.
  • The Super Bowl officials, as always, are the highest-rated officials at each position for the year.  Some have worked in the wild card or divisional playoffs, but not all of them.
  • I don’t know how the Pro Bowl officials are selected, but none of them have worked any other postseason games.

We welcome your comments below.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Recent Posts

  • The Importance of Communication in NFL Refereeing
  • The Role of NFL Referees in Maintaining the Integrity of the Game
  • The Impact of Fan Reactions on NFL Referees
  • The Role of NFL Referees in Enforcing Sportsmanship
  • The Challenges of Maintaining Objectivity as an NFL Referee

Recent Fan Complaints

  • Vic Pederdon – pederdonvictor@gmail.com
  • Gianni Flowers – gianniarletta@gmail.com
  • Carter Brickley – cabrick@yahoo.com
  • Andrew Owens – aowens@gmail.com
  • Dale Dumek – djdansel79@gmail.com
  • Calobo Billiams – cabill@outlook.com
  • Joe Vara – joe_777_2003@yahoo.com
  • Michael Reese – reesem350@gmail.com
  • Eric Henry – h.erictracy@gmail.com
  • Roy Snell – snpace@aol.com

Categories

  • Controversial Calls
  • Disciplinary Action/Fines
  • General
  • General Referee News
  • Referee Assignments
  • Rule Changes
  • Site News
  • Sunday discussion
Fan Complaints

Copyright © 2025