Being chosen as the Super Bowl referee can be a double-edged sword. It is an incredible honor for your career, but it also puts your decisions under a bigger spotlight than at any other time during the season. The Super Bowl 59 referee is Ron Torbert, as he handles the second Super Bowl assignment of his career.
The NFL mixes up officiating crews from the season for the Super Bowl. That means Torbert will be working with no one from his crew this season but should have the very best the NFL has to offer supporting him.
Ron Torbert’s Career as a Referee
Torbert has been in the NFL for 15 years, and this will be his 15th postseason assignment. Torbert’s previous big-game experience came in Super Bowl LVI, but he was also the alternate referee for Super Bowl LIII. Additionally, he has worked four Wild Card games, 7 Divisional games, and one conference championship.
Torbert’s career as an official has taken him around the globe. After starting his career in 1989 in Michigan, he worked for five years in college before he worked a year in NFL Europe in 2007. Torbert was hired by the NFL in 2010 and became a referee ahead of the 2014 season.
Super Bowl Officials
- Referee: Ron Torbert (Second Super Bowl)
- Umpire: Mike Morton (First Super Bowl)
- Down Judge: Max Causey (First Super Bowl)
- Line Judge: Mark Stewart (First Super Bowl)
- Field Judge: Mearl Robinson (First Super Bowl)
- Side Judge: Boris Cheek (Fourth Super Bowl)
- Back Judge: Jonah Monroe (First Super Bowl)
- Replay Official: Kevin Brown (First Super Bowl)
- Replay Assistant: Sean McKee (Third Super Bowl)
The on-field officiating crew for Super Bowl 59 has a combined four Super Bowls of experience, with Sean McKee making it a total of six Super Bowls of expertise. This is the most inexperienced on-field crew since Super Bowl XLVII.
Adding to the inexperienced feel of this crew is that, for the first time in 44 years, we have officials in their third year officiating the game. Both Mike Morton and Max Causey are in their third season. In contrast, Boris Cheek brings 29 years of experience and three former Super Bowls. Ron Torbet (15 years) and Jonah Monroe (10 years) are the only other two on the field with 10 or more years.
There is also plenty of experience on the sidelines to support the on-field officials. There are eight alternate officials, one for each position other than replay assistant. Combined, the on-field assistants have a further four Super Bowls, and four of them have 15 or more years of experience in the league.
- Alternate Referee: Carl Cheffers (Fourth Super Bowl)
- Alternate Umpire: Duane Heydt (First Super Bowl)
- Alternate Down Judge: Dana McKenzie (Second Super Bowl)
- Alternate Line Judge: Julian Mapp (First Super Bowl)
- Alternate Field Judge: Anthony Fleming (First Super Bowl)
- Alternate Side Judge: Chad Hill (First Super Bowl)
- Alternate Back Judge: Greg Yette (First Super Bowl)
- Alternate Replay Official: Matt Sumstine (First Super Bowl)