You may hope to go the entire game without noticing them, but the Super Bowl refs have some of the most important jobs in sports. Every holding, pass interference, and roughing the passer call made by the NFL refs will be under a microscope. And each decision can have a huge impact.
With such a close game to expect between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the officials must make the correct decisions. Therefore, the crew chosen is extremely qualified.
Who are the Super Bowl LV officials?
Eight NFL refs will make up the crew for Super Bowl 55 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Carl Cheffers will be the Super Bowl ref, leading a seven-person crew of on-field officials.
- Carl Cheffers – Referee
- Fred Bryan – Umpire
- Sarah Thomas – Down Judge
- Rusty Baynes – Line Judge
- James Coleman – Field Judge
- Eugene Hall – Side Judge
- Dino Paganelli – Back Judge
- Mike Wimmer – Replay Official
A full list of responsibilities for each of the roles can be found on the NFL Operations website.
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Troy Vincent Sr., the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations, was full of praise for the crew. “Their body of work over the course of a 17-game season has earned them the honor of officiating the biggest game on the world’s biggest stage. They are the best of the best.”
Taken from its website, “NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency, and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. Football is an essential piece of America’s fabric, uniting fans, players, and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. We honor the game’s history while continuing to innovate and preserve the sport for future generations of fans, players, coaches, teams, and officials.”
Sarah Thomas is the first female NFL ref in Super Bowl history
Sarah Thomas is one of two crew members (along with James Coleman) making their Super Bowl debut. Thomas is a rising star in the sport and is the first full-time female official to be hired by the NFL.
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When she takes the field, Thomas will become the first woman to ever officiate in a Super Bowl, taking the next step in her historic journey.
“Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” Vincent said. “Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Sarah on this well-deserved honor.”
Who is the head referee for the Super Bowl in 2021?
Carl Cheffers is the head referee for Super Bowl LV. The 60-year-old is in his 21st season as an NFL ref, having officiated his first game in 2000. He entered the league as a side judge, which he held for eight seasons before being promoted to referee in 2008.
This will be the second Super Bowl that Cheffers is the referee for. He was previously in charge of Super Bowl LI when the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons.
For Super Bowl refs, he or she must have been a referee for at least three seasons. In addition, they must meet a five-year officiating minimum.
Cheffers’ officiating crew for the 2020 season included umpire Mark Pellis, down judge Danny Short, line judge Jeff Seeman, field judge Nate Jones, side judge Eugene Hall, back judge Matt Edwards, and replay official Billy Smith. None of them, however, will be alongside Cheffers to officiate the Super Bowl.
What are the requirements for NFL refs to officiate the Super Bowl?
In addition to becoming the head referee for the Super Bowl, the NFL has a thorough selection criteria when choosing which officials should have the biggest honor in the game.
As previously mentioned, each game official must have worked in the league for at least five seasons before they are eligible. They must also have officiated in the playoffs before. Most have the experience of officiating a Conference Championship, but that isn’t a requirement.
The NFL reviews every play and every decision from every NFL game throughout the season. The NFL refs are then evaluated on their performance. These ratings help to determine who will officiate the Super Bowl, with the highest-rated official at each position earning a spot as a result.
For Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX, a different approach was taken, and the highest-rated crew was assigned the game. In reaction to several high-profile officiating errors, the NFL believed using officials who were familiar with working with each other could resolve key issues.
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However, the decision was made to return to the all-star crew approach for Super Bowl XL in 2005. Furthermore, that approach continues to this day.
What happens if an official becomes sick or hurt?
Super Bowl LV will be the first time since Super Bowl I in 1967 that there will be an alternate official for every position on the field. In addition, it will be the first time the replay official will have a backup.
There have been no indications so far that any of the first-choice officials will miss the game. However, if they do, the alternate NFL refs for the Super Bowl are:
- Shawn Smith – Referee
- Ramon George – Umpire
- Jerod Phillips – Down Judge
- Mark Steinkerchner – Line Judge
- Tom Hill – Field Judge
- Jabir Walker – Side Judge
- Brad Freeman – Back Judge
- Mark Butterworth – Replay Official
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