NFL referee Don Willard will officiate two games
Gulf Coast News and Weather • • sports
Key Points:
- NFL referee Don Willard will make history by officiating two games in the same day on Sunday, a first in NFL history.
- He will start officiating the Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts game in Indianapolis at 1 p.m., then drive 109 miles to Cincinnati for the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals game at 8:20 p.m.
- This unusual schedule is due to a nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday that disrupted air travel, prompting the NFL to reassign officials to games within driving distance of their hometowns.
- The NFL has designated backup referees like Willard, who has nine seasons of experience, to step in as needed, and he will be working as a referee for both games due to the travel constraints.
- Willard is expected to arrive at the second game’s stadium by 7:20 p.m. after finishing the first game and driving, with the second game concluding around 11:30 p.m.
