NFL referee Jerome Boger retires after 19 years of officiating. NFL Officiating announced Boger’s retirement on Twitter yesterday. Citing data from ESPN, Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports stated that Boger “was the league’s longest-tenured crew chief.”
Jerome Boger Retires
In 2004, he became an NFL line judge and served in that position for two years. After two years, he was hired as a referee, serving in that role for 17 seasons. Boger officiated six playoff games, including Super Bowl XLVII, featuring the Baltimore Ravens with Ray Lewis squaring off against the San Francisco 49ers with Colin Kaepernick. Last season’s Week 18 game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts was his final game.
With 19 years of officiating experience in the NFL, Boger has garnered significant critics. No NFL referee is without fierce criticism. However, he was the consummate professional. Jerome Boger, a 1977 graduate of Morehouse College, the prestigious historically Black college in Atlanta, Georgia, demonstrated superior leadership and always exhibited poise even in the most challenging situations. Always a class act, as expected of a Morehouse man, Boger represented himself and the profession with grace and skill. He has indisputable football knowledge.
As a four-year starting quarterback at Morehouse College, he gained critical insights that benefitted his work as an NFL official.
Interesting Reaction to the Retirement
Few people praise referees at any level. With such a long history of service as an NFL referee, it is understandable that Jerome Boger angered many fans, coaches, and players. Darrelle Revis, Hall of Famer, Super Bowl champion, seven-time Pro Bowler, and former New York Jets cornerback, paid homage to Boger on Twitter.
Revis stated, “Jerome Boger is one of the best refs in NFL history. It was fun chats with you as I stood over the ball to wait for the team’s best receiver line up. Congrats on a successful 19 year career as a NFL referee.”
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