Al Jury facts for kids
Al Jury (born August 22, 1941 – died November 6, 2024) was a famous American football official. He worked in the National Football League (NFL) for many years, from 1978 to 2003. He was known for his important role in many big games, including a record number of Super Bowls.
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Al Jury's NFL Career
Al Jury began his NFL career in 1978. He started as a back judge. Later, the league changed the names of some official positions. So, he became a field judge in 1998. He wore uniform number 106 for most of his time in the NFL. Many people recognized him by the special prescription goggles he wore during games.
Super Bowl Appearances
One of the most amazing parts of Al Jury's career was his Super Bowl record. He officiated in five Super Bowls, which tied the record for the most by any official. 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
Life Before the NFL
Al Jury started officiating high school games when he was just 18 years old. This was right after he graduated from Pacific High School in San Bernardino, California, in 1959. In high school, he was a talented athlete who played four different sports.
Early Jobs and Officiating Path
While he was officiating, Jury also worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service for seven years. After that, he joined the California Highway Patrol in 1969. He worked as a police officer for 28 years.
Jury slowly moved up in the world of football officiating. He started with junior college games. Then he moved to college football, joining the Pac-8 Conference in 1972. The NFL hired him in 1978 when he was 35 years old.
High School Game Incident
In 1989, Al Jury was officiating a high school basketball game. After the game, there was a disagreement involving the referees, a coach, and some players. After a long discussion, the coach resigned. Al Jury and another referee were no longer allowed to officiate games involving that specific high school team.
Retirement and Later Years
Al Jury had to retire from officiating in the NFL in 2003. This was because he broke 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.
In 2013, Jury received the Art McNally Award. This award recognizes people who have had a great career in the NFL as officials.
Al Jury passed away on November 6, 2024, at the age of 83.
