It’s a big game, but referees remember “it’s just 60 minutes of NFL football”

Michael Pointer of The Indianapolis Star talked to former referees Gerry Austin, Jerry Markbriet, and Bill Carollo about their Super Bowl experiences. Collectively, they represent nine of the Super Bowls, including seven which they were crew chief. Markbriet has the record with four assignments as the head referee.

In Pointer’s article, the trio said they were honored to serve on football’s biggest stage, but from a working perspective, they treat it as any other game. As Austin told his crew before the game, “When we kick off, it’s just 60 minutes of NFL football. Don’t ever forget that.”

It must be very hard to forget, especially since routine procedures like the coin toss require a rehearsal session before the game.