Ground stop results in side judge Don Willard serving as referee for two games on Sunday
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The NFL has adjusted officiating assignments for Week 10 due to a nationwide ground stop affecting air travel, requiring officials to be reassigned to games within driving distance of their hometowns.
- Three backup referees—Barry Anderson, Duane Heydt, and Don Willard—will serve as referees in place of the originally scheduled officials for four games.
- Don Willard will undertake the unusual task of refereeing two games on the same day, first the Dolphins-Colts game at 1:00 p.m. ET, then traveling 109 miles to officiate the Steelers-Bengals game at night.
- This situation is unprecedented, especially since Willard’s usual crew was not scheduled to work any games that weekend.
- The NFL has not detailed the specific roles or assignments of the displaced referees or how the officiating crews will be reorganized beyond these changes.
