Dale Hamer
Encyclopedia
Dale Hamer was an American football official in the National Football League
(NFL) from 1978
to 2001
, with a break taken for health reasons during the 1995 season
. During his 23 seasons in the NFL, Hamer was assigned to officiate in two Super Bowls, as a head linesman in Super Bowl XVII
and in Super Bowl XXII
. Additionally, he was an alternate referee for Super Bowl XXVII
.
Hamer's career in the NFL started in 1978 as a head linesman. He was later promoted to referee in 1989
upon the retirement of long-time referee Fred Silva
. In 1995, Hamer was forced to take a leave from officiating when doctors discovered that he had a heart murmur
. Further tests revealed that Hamer had stenosis
and calcification
of his aortic heart valve
, and it would need to be replaced. In July 1995, Dale received a pericardial tissue heart valve. As a result, he missed the entire 1995 NFL season
, but returned at the start of the 1996 NFL season
after Gordon McCarter
announced his retirement. He returned to the head linesman position in 1998
and worked on the crews of Larry Nemmers and Bernie Kukar
. After retiring as an on-field official following the 2001 NFL season
, Hamer assumed new duties as an instant replay
official for the NFL, a position he continues to serve in today.
Hamer, who wore uniform number 104, is a past president of the National Football League Referees Association.
Hamer is a 1960 graduate of California State College in Western Pennsylvania (now California University of Pennsylvania
), and in the early 1960s taught algebra at Clairton High School in Clairton, Pennsylvania
.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) from 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
to 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
, with a break taken for health reasons during the 1995 season
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
. During his 23 seasons in the NFL, Hamer was assigned to officiate in two Super Bowls, as a head linesman in Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
and in Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
. Additionally, he was an alternate referee for Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
.
Hamer's career in the NFL started in 1978 as a head linesman. He was later promoted to referee in 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
upon the retirement of long-time referee Fred Silva
Fred Silva
Fred Silva was an American football official in the National Football League for 21 seasons from 1968 to 1988. Silva was widely known for his coolness under fire on the football field and clapping his hand together when signaling a first down...
. In 1995, Hamer was forced to take a leave from officiating when doctors discovered that he had a heart murmur
Heart murmur
Murmurs are extra heart sounds that are produced as a result of turbulent blood flow that is sufficient to produce audible noise. Most murmurs can only be heard with the assistance of a stethoscope ....
. Further tests revealed that Hamer had stenosis
Stenosis
A stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure.It is also sometimes called a stricture ....
and calcification
Calcification
Calcification is the process in which calcium salts build up in soft tissue, causing it to harden. Calcifications may be classified on whether there is mineral balance or not, and the location of the calcification.-Causes:...
of his aortic heart valve
Aortic valve
The aortic valve is one of the valves of the heart. It is normally tricuspid , although in 1% of the population it is found to be congenitally bicuspid . It lies between the left ventricle and the aorta....
, and it would need to be replaced. In July 1995, Dale received a pericardial tissue heart valve. As a result, he missed the entire 1995 NFL season
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
, but returned at the start of the 1996 NFL season
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
after Gordon McCarter
Gordon McCarter
Gordon McCarter was an American football official in the National Football League from 1967 to 1995. He joined the NFL as a line judge and back judge in 1967 before being promoted to referee with the start of the 1974 NFL season when Jack Reader was named Assistant Supervisor of Officials at NFL...
announced his retirement. He returned to the head linesman position in 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
and worked on the crews of Larry Nemmers and Bernie Kukar
Bernie Kukar
Bernie Kukar is a former American football official in the National Football League for 22 seasons from the 1984 to the 2005 season. He wore uniform number 86....
. After retiring as an on-field official following the 2001 NFL season
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
, Hamer assumed new duties as an instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
official for the NFL, a position he continues to serve in today.
Hamer, who wore uniform number 104, is a past president of the National Football League Referees Association.
Hamer is a 1960 graduate of California State College in Western Pennsylvania (now California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
), and in the early 1960s taught algebra at Clairton High School in Clairton, Pennsylvania
Clairton, Pennsylvania
Clairton is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Monongahela River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area. The population was 6,796 at the 2010 census. Under Pennsylvania legal classifications for local governments, Clairton is considered a third-class city...
.