Steratore to ref Super Bowl LII
Gene Steratore will serve as referee for Super Bowl LII, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Steratore has never been referee for the Super Bowl, though he served as an alternate for Super Bowl XLIV. He leads a seven-person crew of on-field officials that includes Roy Ellison (umpire), Jerry Bergman (down judge), Byron Boston (line judge), Tom Hill (field judge), Scott Edwards (side judge) and Perry Paganelli (back judge). Paul Weidner is the replay official.
To be eligible for the Super Bowl, officials must rate in the top tier at their position, have at least five years of NFL experience and have previous playoff assignments. Steratore also worked last Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
The 54-year-old has officiated 11 playoff games, including two conference championships, and is in his 15th season as an NFL game official after entering the league as a field judge in 2003 and being promoted to referee in 2006.
Steratore made headlines last month when he used an index card to help measure a first down during a Week 15 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders. An NFL spokesman said afterward that the decision was "very unusual" but did not violate league rules. Several days later, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron told officials to no longer use index cards or any other foreign objects to measure ball placement.
Super Bowl LII will be played Sunday, Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
--Field Level Media
