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2015 Postseason

Wild Card referees: Torbert, Parry, Coleman, Steratore

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Wild Card Playoff referees Ron Torbert, John Parry, Walt Coleman, and Gene Steratore

Football Zebras has confirmed the referees for the Wild Card weekend. Officials are listed with their uniform number, years of NFL experience (including this season), the crew each official worked with in the regular season (by the referee’s name), college, and outside occupation.

All times are Eastern.

Three alternates are assigned to each game: generally, one is designated for the offensive backfield (a referee or umpire), one is on the line of scrimmage (head linesman or line judge), and one is a deep position (side judge, field judge, or back judge). When alternates are listed, their position during the regular season is also given. The prior playoff experience that is listed for the crew chief includes his service as an NFL official, including as referee and any other crew position (excluding alternate assignments).

Saturday, Jan. 9

AFC Wild Card: Chiefs at Texans, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Ron Torbert is the referee, who is in his 6th season and 2nd as referee. This is the first season he is eligible for a postseason assignment at the referee position. (First-year referees and first-year officials cannot qualify for postseason assignments.) This is his 4th postseason assignment (2 Wild Card Playoffs and 2 Divisional Playoffs); he has received a playoff assignment in every year he was eligible.

      Yrs 2015 crew College Occupation
R 62 Ron Torbert 6   Michigan State attorney
U 124 Carl Paganelli 16 Torbert Michigan State retired federal probation officer
HL 48 Jim Mello 12 Allen Northeastern facilities manager
LJ 10 Julian Mapp 7 Wrolstad Grambling State software QA tester
FJ 67 Doug Rosenbaum 15 Allen Illinois Wesleyan financial consultant
SJ 55 Alex Kemp 2 Triplette Central Michigan insurance agent
BJ 133 Steve Freeman 15 Triplette Mississippi State custom home builder
  • Replay Official: Billy Smith
  • Replay Assistant: Jim Grant
  • Alternates: Jeff Triplette (R), Greg Bradley (HL), ?
  • Supervisor: Gary Slaughter

AFC Wild Card: Steelers at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)

John Parry is the referee, who is in his 16th season and 9th as referee. This is Parry’s 11th postseason assignment, and his first since his Super Bowl assignment four years ago. Parry has been assigned to 2 Wild Card Playoffs, 6 Divisional Playoffs, 1 Conference Championship, and Super Bowls XLI and XLVI. The first Super Bowl assignment was as a side judge.

      Yrs 2015 crew College Occupation
R 132 John Parry 16   Purdue financial advisor
U 131 Mark Pellis 2 Parry Allegheny financial advisor
HL 8 Dana McKenzie 8 (swing) Toledo claims adjuster
LJ 107 Ron Marinucci 19 Hussey Glassboro State vice president, novelty cone company
FJ 82 Buddy Horton 17 Corrente Oregon State water service worker
SJ 1 Scott Novak 2 Cheffers Phoenix sales manager
BJ 46 Perry Paganelli 18 Parry Hope College retired high school administrator
  • Replay Official: Tom Sifferman
  • Alternates: Jerome Boger (R), Ed Camp (HL), Steve Patrick (BJ)

Sunday, Jan. 10

NFC Wild Card: Seahawks at Vikings, 1 p.m. (NBC)

Walt Coleman is the referee, who is in his 27th season and 21st as referee; he has the most seniority of any current official. This will be Coleman’s 17th postseason assignment, including 6 Wild Card Playoffs, 9 Divisional Playoffs, and 2 Conference Championships.

      Yrs 2015 crew College Occupation
R 65 Walt Coleman 27   Arkansas manager dairy processor
U 11 Fred Bryan 7 Allen Northern Iowa superintendent, juvenile correctional facility
HL 91 Jerry Bergman 14 Coleman Robert Morris sales executive
LJ 100 Tom Symonette 12 Allen Florida certified public accountant
FJ 88 Brad Freeman 2 Cheffers Mississippi State sports park director
SJ 97 Tom Hill 17 Allen Carson Newman teacher
BJ 39 Rich Martinez 2 Coleman Canisius sales manager
  • Replay Official: Tommy Moore
  • Replay Assistant: Glenn King
  • Alternates: Brad Allen (R), ?, ?
  • Supervisor: Garth DeFelice
  • Observer: Alberto Riveron

NFC Wild Card: Packers at Washington, 4:40 p.m. (Fox)

Gene Steratore is the referee, who is in his 13th year and 10th as referee. This is his 9th postseason assignment, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs, 4 Divisional Playoffs, and 2 Conference Championships.

      Yrs 2015 crew College Occupation
R 114 Gene Steratore 13   Kent State co-owner, supply company
U 40 Butch Hannah 17 Anderson Middle Tennessee State retired federal probation officer
HL 22 Steve Stelljes 14 Anderson Friends business planning manager
LJ 9 Mark Perlman 15 Parry Salem teacher
FJ 103 Eugene Hall 2 Anderson North Texas federal agent
SJ 25 Bob Waggoner 19 Steratore Juniata College retired probation officer
BJ 30 Todd Prukop 7 Anderson Cal State-Fullerton medical sales representative
  • Replay Official: Paul Weidner
  • Replay Assistant: Mike Chase
  • Alternates: John Hussey* (R), Laird Hayes (SJ), Terrence Miles (BJ)

*Note: Hussey does not qualify for a postseason assignment since this is his first year as a referee, but he is qualified to work as an alternate.

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