He has officiated NCSU, Duke and UNC basketball. Now he’s lead ref for Super Bowl LII.
Gene Steratore is one of just two NFL referees who also officiate NCAA Division I men’s basketball games. Now he’ll be the lead ref for Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.
Steratore largely refs for the Big Ten conference, but he officiated N.C. State’s 74-59 win over Xavier in the first round of the 2014 NCAA tournament and the Wolfpack’s 66-61 loss at Purdue on Dec. 2, 2014.
He was also the ref for the UNC-Indiana game on Nov. 30, 2017, the Duke-Wisconsin game on Dec. 3, 2014 and others.
Steratore, 54, has officiated NCAA men’s basketball games since 1997 and has been an NFL ref since 2006, after previously serving as a field judge. Steratore was an alternate for Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 and has officiated 11 playoff games.
Gene Steratore will be the referee for @SuperBowl LII. pic.twitter.com/mqaaMlO84h
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) January 17, 2018
Steratore is the ref who famously used an index card to help measure a first down in a game between the Raiders and Cowboys on Dec. 17.
According to Pro Football Reference’s database, the Eagles are 10-3 in games officiated by Steratore. The Patriots are 12-5. The Eagles will enter Super Bowl LII with a slightly better win percentage in games officiated by Steratore.
Amazing that college basketball official Gene Steratore is officiating the Super Bowl, too! Congrats to Gene, a terrific official and person. I still believe football officials should be as demonstrative as hoop officials. Sell the call! pic.twitter.com/tqasoroqnJ
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 25, 2018
Steratore has only officiated one Eagles-Patriots game – a 31-28 win in 2007 by the Patriots. The Patriots were called for more penalties than the Eagles did in that game, with seven flags for 44 yards compared to the Philadelphia’s three penalties for 18 yards.
He also comes from a family of refs – both his brother and his father also officiate.
This story was originally published January 25, 2018 at 2:22 PM with the headline "He has officiated NCSU, Duke and UNC basketball. Now he’s lead ref for Super Bowl LII.."