The controversy around officiating across the NFL is a never-ending discussion that is brought into the spotlight seemingly every week. Whether it is specifically infamous plays like the Tush Push or teams that have become a common denominator for fans to complain about, the refereeing job has never been as closely monitored under a microscope as it is in the current football landscape.
The franchise that is at the center of most of the controversy, especially driven by the fan base, is unquestionably the Kansas City Chiefs. Even after losing in the Super Bowl last season and coming out to a 2-3 start, their games remain in the limelight, unlike almost any other team. Coming off a loss on Monday Night Football, they will be the sole focus when they take on the Detroit Lions in the primetime Sunday Night Football clash in Week 6. Here is who the league has in mind to officiate the game fairly.
Who are the Referees Assigned for Chiefs vs. Lions?
Last week, when they faced off against the Jaguars, controversy reigned supreme multiple times. Firstly, the refs withdrew a thrown flag on an offensive pass interference that resulted in a Chiefs touchdown.
The situation worsened when a blatant pass interference went uncalled, leading to an interception from Kansas City who are ranked 7th in PFSN’s Offence Impact Rankings. When they take on Detroit, the hope is that a similar outcome will not repeat itself.
As a result, the NFL will be putting its best foot forward for the game. According to the Week 6 referee assignments, Craig Wrolstad, a 12-year veteran, will handle the referee duties for the prime-time matchup.
Wrolstad began his career overseas with a stint in NFL Europe. When he returned to the States, he held roles for the Pacific-10 conference and the Arena Football League.
In 2003, he finally got his call to the NFL, as he took on the role of a field judge. It took over 10 years before he was finally promoted to referee in 2014. That change also changed his jersey number, switching from 89 to 4.
With 11 years of experience at the position, Wrolstad knows his way around the gridiron, having served as a field judge during Super Bowl XLVII and as an alternate referee during Super Bowl LII.
His crew for the 2025 season includes:
- Umpire: Brandon Cruse
- Down Judge: Danny Short
- Line Judge: Brett Bergman
- Field Judge: Jeff Shears
- Side Judge: Frank Steratore
- Back Judge: Rich Martinez
- Replay Official: Gavin Anderson
- Replay Assistant: Ken Hall
