2016 Divisional Playoffs
Steratore, Morelli, Cheffers, Corrente are Divisional Playoff referees
Football Zebras has confirmed the referees for the Divisional Playoffs.
Football Zebras has confirmed the officiating crews for the Divisional Playoffs. 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).Â
Also of note, the eventual Super Bowl officials are working this weekend’s games, but not all are from the same crew.
Saturday, Jan. 14
Seahawks at Falcons, 4:35 p.m. FOXÂ
The Seahawks and Falcons have Gene Steratore as their referee. Steratore is in his 14th season and 11th as referee. This is his 10th postseason assignment, including 3 Wild Card Playoffs, 5 Divisional Playoffs, and 2 Conference Championships.
| Â | Â | Â | Yrs | 2016 crew | College | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 114 | Gene Steratore | 14 | Â | Kent State | co-owner, supply company |
| U | 129 | Bill Schuster | 17 | Steratore | Alfred | insurance broker |
| HL | 110 | Phil McKinnely | 15 | Vinovich | UCLA | inventory control |
| LJ | 8 | Dana McKenzie | 9 | Boger | Toledo | claims adjuster |
| FJ | 50 | Aaron Santi | 2 | Torbert | Southern Oregon | middle school principal |
| SJ | 1 | Scott Novak | 3 | Cheffers | Phoenix | sales manager |
| BJ | 105 | Dino Paganelli | 11 | Steratore | Aquinas College | educator |
- Replay:Â Darryll Lewis
- Alternates: Ruben Fowler (U), Ron Marinucci (LJ), Lee Dyer (BJ)
Texans at Patriots, 8:15Â p.m. CBS
In New England, Pete Morelli, who is in his 20th season and 15th as referee, will head the crew for the Texans and Patriots. This is Morelli’s 16th postseason assignment, including 7 Wild Card Playoffs, 6Â Divisional Playoffs, 2 Conference Championships, and Super Bowl XXXVI. His Super Bowl assignment was as a field judge.
| Â | Â | Â | Yrs | 2016 crew | College | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 135 | Pete Morelli | 20 | Â | St. Mary’s | high school principal |
| U | 14 | Shawn Smith | 2 | Triplette | Ferris State | internal auditor |
| HL | 79 | Kent Payne | 13 | Cheffers | Nebraska Wesleyan | teacher |
| LJ | 47 | Tim Podraza | 9 | Cheffers | Nebraska | corporate real estate |
| FJ | 88 | Brad Freeman | 3 | Cheffers | Mississippi State | sports park director |
| SJ | 109 | Dyrol Prioleau | 10 | Triplette | Johnson C Smith | manager, law firm |
| BJ | 61 | Keith Ferguson | 17 | Hussey | San Jose State | sales |
- Replay:Â Tommy Moore
- Alternates: Walt Coleman (R), John McGrath (HL), Terrence Miles (BJ)
Sunday, Jan. 15
Steelers at Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. NBCÂ
NOTE:Â Kickoff time moved from the early afternoon slot due to the forecast of an ice storm that may affect travel to the game.
Carl Cheffers is the referee for the Steelers-Chiefs game; he is in his 17th season and 9th as referee. This is Cheffers’ 10th postseason assignment, including 4 Wild Card Playoffs, 4 Divisional Playoffs, and 2 Conference Championships.
| Â | Â | Â | Yrs | 2016 crew | College | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 51 | Carl Cheffers | 17 | Â | California-Irvine | high school principal |
| U | 64 | Dan Ferrell | 14 | Corrente | Cal State-Fullerton | internal auditor |
| HL | 22 | Steve Stelljes | 15 | Morelli | Friends | teacher |
| LJ | 45 | Jeff Seeman | 15 | Parry | Minnesota | corporate real estate |
| FJ | 67 | Doug Rosenbaum | 16 | Morelli | Illinois Wesleyan | sports park director |
| SJ | 7 | Keith Washington | 9 | Parry | Virginia Military Institute | manager, law firm |
| BJ | 30 | Todd Prukop | 8 | Corrente | Cal State-Fullerton | sales |
- Replay:Â Tom Sifferman
- Alternates: John Hussey (R), Kevin Codey (LJ), Dale Shaw (FJ)
Packers at Cowboys, 4:40 p.m. FOX
For the rematch of the 2014 Divisional game, Tony Corrente is the referee. This is his 22nd season and 19th as referee. This is Corrente’s 16th postseason assignment, including 5 Wild Card Playoffs, 5Â Divisional Playoffs, 5 Conference Championships, and Super Bowl XLI.
| Â | Â | Â | Yrs | 2016 crew | College | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 99 | Tony Corrente | 22 | Â | Cal State-Fullerton | retired educator |
| U | 102 | Bruce Stritesky | 11 | Vinovich | Embry Riddle | airline pilot |
| HL | 32 | Jeff Bergman | 25 | Triplette | Robert Morris | president and chief executive officer, medical services |
| LJ | 2 | Bart Longson | 2 | Corrente | Brigham Young | co-founder and CEO, digital finance company |
| FJ | 82 | Buddy Horton | 18 | Corrente | Oregon State | water service worker |
| SJ | 75 | Rob Vernatchi | 13 | Corrente | California-Riverside | enforcement investigator |
| BJ | 133 | Steve Freeman | 16 | Triplette | Mississippi State | custom home builder |
- Replay:Â Carl Madsen
- Alternates: John Parry (R), Gary Arthur (LJ), Dave Meslow (SJ)
