Backup Officials Step In as Nationwide Flight Issues Force NFL Official to Referee Two Games Sunday
A demanding Sunday assignment
Don Willard, a side judge, is scheduled to referee the Miami Dolphins against the Indianapolis Colts in the 1 p.m. ET time slot. After that game, he will drive to Cincinnati to officiate the Bengals’ matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The drive is 110 miles and is expected to take about 90 minutes to two hours, depending on traffic. The AFC North game is scheduled for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
Backup officials step in
The NFL said each of its 17 officiating crews has an identified backup referee. The league said those backups train throughout the year to work in the referee position when needed.
Pressure for second game
The situation left the league with no great options, and the account described it as one the NFL could not control. Willard’s second assignment is expected to bring added pressure after he has already worked the earlier game. The two assignments put Willard in charge of games involving the Colts and Dolphins, then the Bengals and Steelers, all on the same Sunday.
Key points
- Don Willard is scheduled to referee two NFL games on Sunday.
- He will travel 110 miles from the Dolphins-Colts game to Cincinnati.
- The Bengals-Steelers game is set for an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
- The NFL said backup referees train for the referee position throughout the year.