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NY Post
New York Post
23 Jan 2024


NextImg:Super Bowl 2024 officials led by ref with controversial history

Super Bowl 2024 could have Chiefs, Ravens, Lions or 49ers, but it will certainly have some zebras.

The NFL announced the officiating crew for Feb. 11 winner-take-all match at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, which will be led by veteran referee Bill Vinovich.

The NFL selects its crew for the Super Bowl based on merit, and while the 63-year-old will be working his third championship game, his resume isn’t without its blemishes.

Vinovich was the referee for the now-infamous 2019 NFC championship game in which Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman laid a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis late in the fourth quarter.

Officials did not penalize the hit and the Rams went on to win in overtime.

The NFL acknowledged the blown non-call and later allowed teams to challenge pass interference calls for the 2020 season.

Vinovich will be joined by umpire Terry Killens, down judge Patrick Holt, line judge Mark Perlman, field judge Tom Hill, side judge Allen Baynes, back judge Brad Freeman and replay official Mike Chase.

Referee Bill Vinovich #52 calls a false start during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. Getty Images

For Killens, the assignment also marks a return to the Super Bowl.

The 49-year-old added one tackle to the ledger while playing special teams and backup linebacker for the Titans in a 23-16 loss to the Rams in the big game in 2000.

He’ll become the first person to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl.

Referee Terry Killens stands on field in the first quarter of the game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 9, 2022

Terry Killens will be the first official to work a Super Bowl after having played in one. Getty Images

The game will also mark the final game for Perlman and Hill, who planned to retire at the end of the season.

It makes the second time in Super Bowl history that multiple officials will retire after an on-field assignment in the big game, per Football Zebras.

The mixed officiating crew comes from a pool of 28 on-filed officials who worked the divisional round.

Referees must have five years of officiating experience with two as a referee and have worked at least one playoff game as a referee in a prior season.

Other officials need to have five years of NFL experience and worked with a conference championship game or have three playoff-qualifying seasons in the last five years.