The NFL is a brutal league for the players. The fierce tackles, the severe injuries, playing through pain, etc. all make the sport a little difficult to enjoy at times. For the coaches, it can be a nightmare. How to strategize for each game, what tactics to use, which play to call, and more. But have we ever spared a thought for the officials who are on the field running around trying to keep up with the players? To say they have a tough job is an understatement at times.
Even though there is a full team of seven officials led by the referee, all seven officials have to be focused on each and every play. All officials have their own set of responsibilities and thus need to be in the correct spot before the play starts. They have to be alert for any potential false starts before the snap and have to be on their toes as the play develops. On top of that, they also have to rule for fair catches, and penalties, and mark where the ball needs to be placed for the next play.
Thus, being an official in the league is no mean feat. Plus, keeping healthy and fit to run around the field for the entire duration of the game also requires great stamina and health. The most surprising fact of all is that the average age of the referee is around 50 years because getting to that position in itself is a long road. But there are some officials such as Carl Cheffers who have been in the league for a long time and have had some very important matches to referee on their watch. So let us take a look now at the most important Super Bowl matches Cheffers has been a part of.
Who is Carl Cheffers?
Carl Cheffers is one of the most experienced officials in the National Football League (NFL). Born in California, Cheffers took a liking to officiating games due to his father. He initially took up officiating in school football games for an additional income but realized that he enjoyed it and wanted to continue with the profession. In 1980, he started officiating in several important high school games and by 1995 he entered the college system and officiated in the PAC-10 for five years before he got an offer to join the NFL.
In the NFL, Cheffers started off as a side judge for eight years working on the crew headed by referee Larry Nemmers. By 2008, he was promoted to referee (crew chief) and he has been enjoying this position since then.
Carl Cheffers Super Bowl
To date, Cheffers has been in three Super Bowls. He made his Super Bowl debut in Super Bowl LI in 2017. His second and third appearances came in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Officiating any NFL game is a big deal in itself, but finding yourself in the biggest game of the year can be both exhilarating and strenuous at the same time. Not only is the weight of all expectations on the officials’ shoulders but every penalty call is met with a jeer from either of the team’s supporters.
Cheffers, who began his officiating career in the NFL in 2000, has now been to three such high-pressure games in his life with the most recent one coming this year when the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Super Bowl LI
Super Bowl LI was held on February 5, 2017, at NRG Stadium, in Houston, Texas. This was Cheffers’ first attempt at refereeing to the Super Bowl and he took charge of the game between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. In general, Cheffers and his crew have earned the reputation for calling the most penalties per game automatically resulting in more penalty yards per game.
As a result of which there have often been some controversial calls during Cheffers games. Of course, it is easy to criticize the officials but we must remember how difficult the job is to get all the calls perfect on every play. And most penalties are always like two sides of a coin. Still, looking back at the Super Bowls Cheffers has refereed in, he and his crew have dished out quite a few and some maybe questionable calls.
In his first Championship game, Cheffers dished out 9 penalties for 65 yards to the Falcons. More importantly, 4 penalties resulted in automatic first downs for the Patriots which tied a previous Super Bowl record.
Super Bowl LV
Super Bowl LV took place on February 7, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chiefs. In this game, the Chiefs bore the brunt of some strict refereeing as they were heavily penalized by Cheffers, especially in the first half. Through the entirety of the game, the Chiefs received 11 penalties for a grand total of 120 yards. In the first half alone, the Chiefs were penalized 8 times for 95 yards. Most of these penalties were called against the Kansas City defense.
Even though the Buccaneers' defense was making easy work of the makeshift Chiefs offensive line and had Mahomes running for his life all game long, the penalties against the Chiefs' defense did make the life of the Buccaneers' offense that much simpler.
Super Bowl LVII
Super Bowl LVII was played between the Chiefs and Eagles on February 12, 2023, at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. Funnily, this game had both sets of fans on the edge when they came to know that Cheffers and his crew would be officiating the all-important game. The Chiefs fans still had the previous Super Bowl experience of 11 penalties lingering in their minds, while the Eagles pointed to their 6-8 record with Cheffers being the man in the middle.
In all fairness, this time around the officiating was quite good for both teams as only nine penalties resulting in 47 yards were awarded for both teams combined. However, a controversial defensive holding call came very late in the game which all but sealed the win for the Chiefs after they took control of the clock and kicked the winning field goal. The call was met with mixed views with some not liking it while others thought it was correct. Most important of all though was James Bradberry’s (the player penalized) admission that he did in fact hold the receiver on the play hoping the referees would not call it.
Carl Cheffers is now 63 years old and although he has not retired from refereeing in the league, this may very well have been his last Super Bowl appearance.
FAQs
A. Carl Cheffers is 63 years old as of August 23. He was born on July 22, 1960.
A. Carl Cheffers is an NFL referee who has more than two decades of experience officiating in the league.
A. Carl Cheffers has officiated in three Super Bowls namely Super Bowls LI, LV, and LVII.
A. Carl Cheffers found an interest in officiating football games since his father used to be an official in college football’s PAC 10 conference.
A. Carl Cheffers started out as a side judge in 2000 and was promoted to a referee in 2008.
