Jerry Seeman
Encyclopedia
Jerry Seeman was an American football official in the National Football League
(NFL) from 1975 to 1990 and was the NFL's Senior Director of Officiating from 1991 to 2001, succeeding Art McNally
. In his 16 seasons in the NFL, Seeman was selected to officiate in 15 playoff games including two Pro Bowl
s, and two Super Bowl
s: XXIII
in 1989 and XXV
in 1991, and was an alternate referee for Super Bowl XIV
in 1980. He wore uniform number 70 for the majority of his career (wearing number 17 during the 1979-81 seasons when officials were numbered by position).
where he was a stand out athlete in football
, basketball
, and baseball
. Later, while attending Winona State University
in Winona, Minnesota
, he played quarterback for three years and played basketball for two years before graduating in 1957 with a degree in mathematics.
From 1963 to 1972, Seeman officiating high school football and basketball games in Minnesota
for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(MIAC) and Wisconsin
for the Wisconsin State University College Conference. In 1972, Seeman accepted a position as referee in the Big Ten Conference
where he would stay until being hired by the NFL in 1975.
In his first year in the NFL, Seeman worked as a line judge before moving to head linesman and eventually referee, a position he held until the conclusion of the 1990 NFL season
.
His retirement from officiating in 1991 after serving as referee in Super Bowl XXV was prompted by being appointed to the Senior Director of Officating by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
, replacing Art McNally
who spent 31 seasons as an NFL official and in the front office.
On June 30, 2001, Seeman retired as Senior Director of Officiating and was succeeded by Mike Pereira
.
Seeman still is employed by the NFL as an observer for Sunday games, meets with owners, and visits the training camps in NFL Europe
.
Seeman is married to Marilyn and have three sons, Michael, Jon, and Jeff. Jeff is currently an official in the NFL.
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 1975 to 1990 and was the NFL's Senior Director of Officiating from 1991 to 2001, succeeding Art McNally
Art McNally
Art McNally is a former Director of Officiating for the National Football League from 1968 to 1990. Before becoming Director of Officiating, McNally served as a field judge and referee in the NFL for nine years from 1959 to 1967...
. In his 16 seasons in the NFL, Seeman was selected to officiate in 15 playoff games including two Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s, and two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s: XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
in 1989 and XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
in 1991, and was an alternate referee for Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
in 1980. He wore uniform number 70 for the majority of his career (wearing number 17 during the 1979-81 seasons when officials were numbered by position).
Biography
Seeman attended Plainview High School in Plainview, MinnesotaPlainview, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,190 people, 1,157 households, and 824 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,452.5 people per square mile . There were 1,223 housing units at an average density of 556.9 per square mile...
where he was a stand out athlete in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Later, while attending Winona State University
Winona State University
Winona State University is a comprehensive public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States, a college and river town located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, with around 8,900 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students...
in Winona, Minnesota
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
, he played quarterback for three years and played basketball for two years before graduating in 1957 with a degree in mathematics.
From 1963 to 1972, Seeman officiating high school football and basketball games in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
for the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. As the name implies, member schools are located in the state of Minnesota...
(MIAC) and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
for the Wisconsin State University College Conference. In 1972, Seeman accepted a position as referee in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
where he would stay until being hired by the NFL in 1975.
In his first year in the NFL, Seeman worked as a line judge before moving to head linesman and eventually referee, a position he held until the conclusion of the 1990 NFL season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
.
His retirement from officiating in 1991 after serving as referee in Super Bowl XXV was prompted by being appointed to the Senior Director of Officating by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
Paul Tagliabue
Paul John Tagliabue is a former Commissioner of the National Football League. He took the position in 1989 and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, who was elected to the position on August 8, 2006. Tagliabue's retirement took effect on September 1, 2006. He had previously served as a lawyer for the NFL...
, replacing Art McNally
Art McNally
Art McNally is a former Director of Officiating for the National Football League from 1968 to 1990. Before becoming Director of Officiating, McNally served as a field judge and referee in the NFL for nine years from 1959 to 1967...
who spent 31 seasons as an NFL official and in the front office.
On June 30, 2001, Seeman retired as Senior Director of Officiating and was succeeded by Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira
Mike Pereira is a former Vice President of Officiating for the National Football League . He first took over the position in 2001, succeeding Jerry Seeman. He was also a game official in the NFL for two seasons as a side judge on the officiating crew headed by referee Mike Carey...
.
Seeman still is employed by the NFL as an observer for Sunday games, meets with owners, and visits the training camps in NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
.
Seeman is married to Marilyn and have three sons, Michael, Jon, and Jeff. Jeff is currently an official in the NFL.
Accomplishments
- As the Senior Director of Officiating, Seeman was credited for simplifying the rules of the game, making it easier for game officials to make calls. He also developed and implemented the current instant replayInstant replayInstant 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...
system in place.
- Training and grading system of officials was modernized by Seeman and the level of communication increased between his office and NFL teams.
Awards
Seeman has received these officiating honors during his career:- National Federation of State High School AssociationsNational Federation of State High School AssociationsThe National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
(NFHS) Hall of Fame - Minnesota State High School LeagueMinnesota State High School LeagueThe Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
Hall of Fame - National Association of Sports Officials Medallion Award
Quotes
- "Your calls had better be Super Bowl calls.... We don't want to determine the outcome of games unless it's the most blatant thing you've seen."