Sports officiating
Mark Baltz honored for 25-year career by NFL Referees group

Mar. 25, 2021 04:56 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Football League Referees Association has named Mark Baltz its 2021 Annual Honoree for his 25-year career as an official and...

NFL hires first Black female game official, Maia Chaka

Mar. 05, 2021 10:52 AM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has hired Maia Chaka as the first Black female official in league history. She will work games during the 2021 season. ...

Raymond James Stadium rises in the distance ahead of Super Bowl 55 Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The venue is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2/7/2021

Feb. 06, 2021 03:06 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)
Physical secondary play in Super Bowl could test officials

By Josh Dubow Feb. 04, 2021 11:29 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs on the field before the AFC championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs 1/24/2021

Jan. 24, 2021 05:30 PM EST

Workers removed the tarp on Lambeau Field before the NFC championship NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers 1/24/2021

Jan. 24, 2021 12:36 PM EST

FILE - Down judge Sarah Thomas is shown before an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Football Team in Cleveland, in this Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, file photo. Sarah Thomas will cap her sixth NFL season by becoming the first female to officiate the Super Bowl in NFL history. Thomas, a down judge, is part of the officiating crew announced Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, by the NFL. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Sarah Thomas to be 1st female to officiate at Super Bowl

Jan. 19, 2021 03:01 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees warms up before the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints 1/17/2021

Jan. 17, 2021 05:06 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees makes a face while warming up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints 1/10/2021

Jan. 10, 2021 03:14 PM EST

From l-r., Dale Shaw, Bart Longson, Derick Bowers, Steve Novak, Chad Hill, Bruce Stritesky and Terrence Miles pose for their Officials Portrait before the start of the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Football team, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team 1/9/2021

Jan. 09, 2021 08:08 PM EST

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers free safety Nasir Adderley during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers 12/27/2020

Dec. 27, 2020 04:42 PM EST

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Dez Bryant works out prior to an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens 12/27/2020

Dec. 27, 2020 12:10 PM EST

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints 12/25/2020

Dec. 25, 2020 03:50 PM EST

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver James Proche II works out prior to an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens 12/20/2020

Dec. 20, 2020 11:46 AM EST

Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn runs on the field for the the start of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers 12/13/2020

Dec. 13, 2020 01:02 PM EST

The sunset is shown through glass at Arrowhead Stadium before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs 12/6/2020

Dec. 06, 2020 06:46 PM EST

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wears a T-shirt that reads "We Want Justice" in support of Black Lives Matter as he warms up for an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks 12/6/2020

Dec. 06, 2020 02:50 PM EST

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass the football during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins 12/6/2020

Dec. 06, 2020 01:40 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/29/2020

Nov. 29, 2020 04:16 PM EST

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, is pushed out of a bounds by Los Angeles Chargers strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills 11/29/2020

Nov. 29, 2020 01:28 PM EST