NFL referee Clete Blakeman signals a field goal as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13, 2013 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The Eagles won 31-20. (Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images)
The NFL chose eighth year official Clete Blakeman as the head referee for Super Bowl 50. Blakeman will lead a seven-man crew of highly-graded officials.
Since 2010, when Blakeman became a referee, the Broncos have a 5-0 record in games where he was the head man. The Panthers have been 2-2 during the same span.
Blakeman has officiated five career playoff games. He has only manned one this year, the Green Bay-Arizona divisional game that had the botched coin toss in overtime.
On average, Blakeman’s crews average 12.2 penalties per game for 103.6 yards. Those numbers are about on par with league average.
Blakeman has not officiated a 2015 Broncos game, but did head the Panthers’ September 20th win over the Texans.
Officials in the Super Bowl have to be ranked among the top of the batch as determined by vice president of officiating Dean Blandino to be chosen.
Umpire Jeff Rice (21 years of experience), head linesman Wayne Mackie (9 years), line judge Rusty Baynes (6 years), field judge Boris Cheek (20 years), side judge Scott Edwards (17 years) and back judge Keith Ferguson (17 years) fill out Blakeman’s crew.
