Al Jury facts for kids

Al Jury (born August 22, 1941 – died November 6, 2024) was an important American football official in the National Football League (NFL). He worked in the NFL from 1978 to 2003. He started as a back judge and later became a field judge. Al Jury was known for working in a record-tying five Super Bowls. He also served as a California Highway Patrol officer for 28 years.

Al Jury's Early Life and Career

Al Jury was born on August 22, 1941. He grew up in San Bernardino, California. After finishing Pacific High School in 1959, he started officiating high school games at age 18. He was a talented athlete himself, playing four different sports in high school.

Before joining the California Highway Patrol, Al Jury worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for seven years. In 1969, he became a California Highway Patrol officer. He served in this role for 28 years.

Moving Up in Football Officiating

Al Jury continued to move up in his officiating career. He started working junior college games. Then he moved on to college football. In 1972, he joined the Pac-8 Conference. His hard work paid off when the NFL hired him in 1978. He was 35 years old at the time.

Al Jury's NFL Career

Al Jury was an NFL official for 25 years. He began as a back judge. In 1998, the league changed the names of some positions. After that, he was called a field judge. He wore uniform number 106 for most of his career. Many people recognized him by the special prescription goggles he wore during games.

Super Bowl Appearances

One of the most impressive parts of Al Jury's career was his work in the Super Bowl. He was chosen to officiate in five Super Bowls, which is a record shared with only a few others. These big games included:

• Super Bowl XX in 1986
• Super Bowl XXII in 1988
• Super Bowl XXIV in 1990
• Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994
• Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000

Challenges in Officiating

In 1989, Al Jury was officiating a high school basketball game. After the game, a disagreement happened involving the referees and some players and coaches. After a review, Al Jury and another referee were no longer allowed to officiate games involving Victor Valley High School.

Life After Officiating

Al Jury's career as an on-field NFL official ended in 2003. He had to retire after breaking his leg during a game. Even after retiring from the field, he continued to work with the NFL. He served as an assistant officiating supervisor. He also worked as a replay official, helping to review plays using video.

Awards and Recognition

In 2013, Al Jury received the Art McNally Award. This award recognizes officials who have had a great career in the NFL. It honors their dedication and contributions to the game.

Al Jury passed away on November 6, 2024, at the age of 83.