In this time when many fans say NFL games are now rigged, the sport just lost a young man who dreamed of being an honest referee, who tragically passed away at the age of 28.
Matthew Alec Cohn is the name of the future NFL referee. He reportedly died after falling from the 12th floor at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando last Thursday. The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a suicide, citing multiple traumatic injuries.
NFL Referee Prospect Reportedly Dies by Suicide at 28
According to the US Sun’s report, Cohn checked into the Contemporary Resort Wednesday night, paying cash for his room. The next morning, guests reported a massive police presence outside the hotel. Disney staff knocked on doors, instructing guests not to look out their windows while personnel shielded hallway views.
The Winter Garden native had been grinding to make it to the Shield. His Instagram featured photos in full zebra stripes with the hashtag #PathToNFL.
“Big-time players make big-time plays,” he captioned his final post from September 2024, per ibtimes. The account reportedly went private after his death.
 
Matthew Alec Cohn Identified as Disney World Guest Who Died by Suicide at Orlando’s Contemporary Resort — Aspiring NFL Referee and Former Musicianhttps://t.co/6QgqW8uR6E
— Kristina Newton (@NewtonKris47969) October 28, 2025
NFL referees can make over $200,000 a season while working just one day a week. But the job comes with intense pressure. Fans and coaches constantly hammer them, and getting every call right is impossible.
ALSO READ: Kenny Dillingham Confirms Sam Leavitt’s Season Is Over, Arizona State QB Set for Surgery
Cohn, a former high school lacrosse player, had recently moved back in with his parents in suburban Orlando. He hadn’t posted on social media for over a year before his death. His passing is the second suicide reported at the Contemporary Resort this month, which is no doubt very concerning.
Cohn Was a Former Musician Who Pivoted to an Officiating Career
Before pursuing the whistle, Cohn chased a different dream. He spent several years living in Los Angeles trying to make it as a musician. A SoundCloud account under his name features several tracks, and he appeared in Instagram posts for New Shepards, an alternative Christian band.
ALSO READ: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Trade Rumors Swirl as Miami’s Slide Continues
The move back felt like a reset, giving him a chance to focus on his NFL officiating goals with the support of his family.
