Don Carey (American football official) facts for kids

Don Carey, born on October 10, 1947, is a former American football official. He worked in the National Football League (NFL) for many years. Officials are like the referees and judges who make sure the game rules are followed. Don Carey wore uniform number 126 during his time in the NFL.

Don Carey: A Career in NFL Officiating

Starting Out as an NFL Official

Don Carey joined the NFL's team of officials in 1995. He started as a field judge. This job involves watching the game from the side of the field. In 1998, the NFL changed some job titles. Don Carey's role became known as a back judge. He continued in this position until the 2008-2009 season.

Becoming a Referee

In 2009, Don Carey was promoted to referee. The referee is the head official on the field. They are in charge of the game. Don Carey was the fourth African American to become an NFL referee. Other referees before him included Johnny Grier, his younger brother Mike Carey, and Jerome Boger.

Don Carey officiated one very important game: Super Bowl XXXVII. This big championship game took place in San Diego.

Working with a Team

Every NFL game needs a team of officials. In 2009, Don Carey's crew included several other experienced officials. These were umpire Garth DeFelice, head linesman Dana McKenzie, line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Mike Weir, side judge Greg Meyer, and back judge Terrence Miles. Each person had a specific role to help make sure the game was fair.

Returning to Back Judge and Retirement

In 2010, another official, Clete Blakeman, became a referee. Don Carey then returned to his role as a back judge. From 2010 to 2013, he worked on the officiating crew led by Ed Hochuli. Don Carey announced that he would not return to the field for the 2014 NFL season, marking the end of his long career.

Life Outside the NFL

When he was not officiating NFL games, Don Carey worked as a contract manager. This shows that he had a career outside of football as well.