(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)
Carl Cheffers, an NFL official since 2000, will be the referee for Super Bowl LVII. The Whittier native has refereed two Super Bowls, the first in 2017 when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI. His last Super Bowl assignment was in 2021 when the Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cheffers, 62, and his crews ranked No. 1 in the league for penalties called during the 2022 regular season, averaging 14.4 flags per game, according to Profootballreference.com. During Super Bowl LV, Cheffers drew the ire of many Chiefs fans for eight first-half penalties against Kansas City. The Chiefs lost 95 yards in the game because of penalties — a Super Bowl record.
Here’s who will make up the rest of Cheffers’ Super Bowl LVII officiating crew: Roy Ellison (umpire), Jerod Phillips (down judge), Jeff Bergman (line judge), John Jenkins (field judge), Eugene Hall (side judge), Dino Paganelli (back judge), Mark Butterworth (replay official).