Super Bowl Officials

There are many factors that can determine the outcome of the Super Bowl. One of the biggest that gets overlooked is the job that the officials do with making the right calls. Sure, the use of instant replay has eliminated a lot of human error, but there are still calls like pass interference and holding that can really decide which team wins.

Because officiating is so important, the NFL has put rules in place as to which referees it chooses for the Super Bowl. There have been seven officials chosen at each Super Bowl dating back to XIII, where there were only six. A side judge was added during the 1978-79 season and has remained ever since.

The head referee is the most important of the officials. He is the one that you will see on TV calling out what the penalty is. He is also located behind the offense on every play, and he is wearing a white hat. There is also an umpire, head linesman, line judge, field judge, back judge and the aforementioned side judge.

To determine which seven officials will be selected for the Super Bowl, the NFL uses an evaluation system to grade each official throughout the season. Only the highest-rated official at each position will be selected for the Super Bowl. Plus, it’s required that these officials have worked in the league for at least five seasons while also previously working in the playoffs.

Super Bowl LVIII Officials

Year Super Bowl Referee Umpire Down Judge Line Judge Field Judge Back Judge Side Judge
2024 LVIII Bill Vinovich Terry Killens Patrick Holt Mark Perlman Tom Hill Brad Freeman Allen Baynes

History of Super Bowl Officials

Year Super Bowl Referee Umpire Down Judge Line Judge Field Judge Back Judge Side Judge
2023 LVII Carl Cheffers Roy Ellison Jerod Phillips Jeff Bergman John Jenkins Dino Paganelli Eugene Hall
2022 LVI Ron Torbert Bryan Neale Derick Bowers Carl Johnson Rick Patterson Scott Helverson Keith Washington
2021 LV Carl Cheffers Fred Bryan Sarah Judge Rusty Baynes James Coleman Dino Paganelli Eugene Hall
2020 LIV Bill Vinovich Barry Anderson Kent Payne Carl Johnson Michael Banks Greg Steed Boris Cheek
2019 LIII John Parry Fred Bryan Ed Camp Jeff Bergman Steve Zimmer Terrence Miles Eugene Hall
2018 LII Gene Steratore Roy Ellison Jerry Bergman Byron Boston Tom Hill Perry Paganelli Scott Edwards
2017 LI Carl Cheffers Dan Ferrell Kent Payne Jeff Seeman Doug Rosenbaum Todd Prukop Dyrol Prioleau
2016 L Clete Blakeman Jeff Rice Wayne Mackie Rusty Baynes Boris Cheek Keith Ferguson Scott Edwards
2015 XLIX Bill Vinovich Bill Schuster Dana McKenzie Mark Perlman Bob Waggoner Terrence Miles Tom Hill
2014 XLVIII Terry McAulay Carl Paganelli Jim Mello Tom Symonette Scott Steenson Steve Freeman Dave Wyant
2013 XLVII Jerome Boger Darrell Jenkins Steve Stelljes Byron Boston Craig Wrolstad Dino Paganelli Joe Larrew
2012 XLVI John Parry Carl Paganelli Tom Stabile Gary Arthur Gary Cavaletto Tony Steratore Laird Hayes
2011 XLV Walt Anderson Chad Brown Kent Payne John Hussey Doug Rosenbaum Scott Helverson Mike Weatherford
2010 XLIV Scott Green Undrey Wash John McGrath Jeff Seeman Rob Vernatchi Greg Steed Greg Meyer
2009 XLIII Terry McAulay Roy Ellison Derrick Bowers Mark Perlman Greg Gautreaux Keith Ferguson Michael Banks
2008 XLII Mike Carey Tony Michalek Gary Slaughter Carl Johnson Boris Cheek Scott Helverson Larry Rose
2007 XLI Tony Corrente Carl Paganelli George Hayward Ron Marinucci Jim Saracino Perry Paganelli John Parry
2006 XL Bill Leavy Garth DeFelice Mark Hittner Mark Perlman Steve Zimmer Bob Waggoner Tom Hill
2005 XXXIX Terry McAulay Carl Paganelli Gary Slaughter Mark Steinkerchner Tom Sifferman Tony Steratore Rick Patterson
2004 XXXVIII Ed Hochuli Jeff Rice Mark Hittner Ben Montgomery Tom Sifferman Scott Green Laird Hayes
2003 XXXVII Bill Carollo Ed Coukart Dale Williams Mark Steinkerchner Tom Sifferman Don Carey Rick Patterson
2002 XXXVI Bernie Kukar Jeff Rice Mark Hittner Ron Phares Pete Morelli Scott Green Laird Hayes
2001 XXXV Gerald Austin Chad Brown Tony Veteri, Jr. Walt Anderson Bill Lovett Bill Schmitz Doug Toole
2000 XXXIV Bob McElwee Ron Botchan Earnie Frantz Byron Boston Al Jury Bill Leavy Tom Fincken
1999 XXXIII Bernie Kukar Jim Daopoulos Sanford Rivers Ron Baynes Tim Millis Don Hakes Gary Lane
1998 XXXII Ed Hochuli Jim Quirk John Schleyer Ben Montgomery Don Dorkowski Paul Baetz Doug Toole
1997 XXXI Gerald Austin Ron Botchan Earnie Frantz Jeff Bergman Phil Luckett Scott Steenson Tom Fincken
1996 XXX Red Cashion John Keck Paul Weidner Dale Orem Don Hakes Dick Creed Bill Carollo
1995 XXIX Jerry Markbreit Ron Botchan Ron Phares Ron Baynes Jack Vaughan Tim Millis Tom Fincken
1994 XXVIII Bob McElwee Art Demmas Sid Semon Tom Barnes Don Orr Al Jury Nate Jones
1993 XXVII Dick Hantak Ron Botchan Ron Phares Dick McKenzie Donnie Hampton Jim Poole Dean Look
1992 XXVI Jerry Markbreit Bob Boylston Dale Williams Ron Blum Paul Baetz Ed Merrifield Dick Creed
1991 XXV Jerry Seeman Art Demmas Sid Semon Dick McKenzie Jack Vaughan Banks Williams Larry Nemmers
1990 XXIV Dick Jorgensen Hendi Ancich Earnie Frantz Ron Blum Don Orr Al Jury Gerald Austin
1989 XXIII Jerry Seeman Gordon Wells Jerry Bergman Bob Beeks Bobby Skelton Paul Baetz Gary Lane
1988 XXII Bob McElwee Al Conway Dale Hamer Jack Fette Johnny Grier Al Jury Don Wedge
1987 XXI Jerry Markbreit Bob Boylston Terry Gierke Bob Beeks Pat Mallette Jim Poole Gil Mace
1986 XX Red Cashion Ron Botchan Dale Williams Bama Glass Jack Vaughan Al Jury Bob Rice
1985 XIX Pat Haggerty Tom Hensley Leo Miles Ray Dodez Bob Lewis Tom Kelleher Bill Quinby
1984 XVIII Gene Barth Gordon Wells Jerry Bergman Bob Beeks Fritz Graf Gil Mace Ben Tompkins
1983 XVII Jerry Markbreit Art Demmas Dale Hamer Bill Reynolds Don Orr Dick Hantak Dave Parry
1982 XVI Pat Haggerty Al Conway Jerry Bergman Bob Beeks Don Hakes Bill Swanson Bob Rice
1981 XV Ben Dreith Frank Sinkovitz Tony Veteri Tom Dooley Fritz Graf Tom Kelleher Dean Look
1980 XIV Fred Silva Al Conway Burl Toler Bob Beeks Charley Musser Stan Javie Ben Tompkins
1979 XIII Pat Haggerty Art Demmas Jerry Bergman Jack Fette Fred Swearingen Pat Knight Dean Look
1978 XII Jim Tunney Joe Connell Tony Veteri Art Holst Bob Wortman Ray Douglas N/A
1977 XI Jim Tunney Lou Palazzi Ed Marion Bill Swanson Armen Terzian Tom Kelleher N/A
1976 X Norm Schachter Joe Connell Leo Miles Jack Fette Bill O’Brien Stan Javie N/A
1975 IX Bernie Ulman Al Conway Ed Marion Bruce Alford Dick Dolack Ray Douglas N/A
1974 VIII Ben Dreith Ralph Morcroft Leo Miles Jack Fette Fritz Graf Stan Javie N/A
1973 VII Tom Bell Lou Palazzi Tony Veteri Bruce Alford Tony Skover Tom Kelleher N/A
1972 VI Jim Tunney Joe Connell Al Sabato Art Holst Bob Wortman Ralph Vandenberg N/A
1971 V Norm Schachter Paul Trepinski Ed Marion Jack Fette Fritz Graf Hugh Gamber N/A
1970 IV John McDonough Lou Palazzi Harry Kessel Bill Schleibaum Charlie Musser Tom Kelleher N/A
1969 III Tom Bell Walt Parker George Murphy Cal Lepore Joe Gonzalez Jack Reader N/A
1968 II Jack Vest Ralph Morcroft Tony Veteri Bruce Alford Bob Baur Stan Javie N/A
1967 I Norm Schachter George Young Bernie Ulman Al Sabato Mike Lisetski Jack Reader N/A

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