Jerome Boger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerome Boger
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Boger working the September 17, 2006 Oakland Raiders-Baltimore Ravens game.
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Jerome Leonard Boger
July 1, 1955 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Education | Morehouse College |
| Occupation | NFL official (2004–2022) |
Jerome Leonard Boger (born July 1, 1955) is a former American football official who worked in the National Football League (NFL). He was an NFL official from 2004 to 2022. He started as a line judge and became a referee in 2006. Boger was the third African-American referee in the NFL. He wore uniform number 23 for most of his career.
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Jerome Boger's Early Life and College Football
Jerome Boger grew up with a love for football. He played quarterback at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a starting player for all four years and graduated in 1977.
After college, Boger realized he might not play professional football. But he still wanted to be part of the game. So, he decided to become an official. This allowed him to stay close to the sport he loved.
How Jerome Boger Became an Official
Boger started officiating games at the high school level. He also worked recreational league games. Slowly, he moved up to officiating college games. He spent 11 years in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He also worked for five seasons in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. This experience helped him prepare for the NFL.
Jerome Boger's Family Life
Jerome Boger lives in Conyers, Georgia. He also worked as an underwriter for Allstate Insurance in Atlanta.
Boger has a son named Tra Boger. Tra also played football and was signed by the Green Bay Packers in 2006. He later played as a defensive back in the Canadian Football League. Today, Tra Boger is also an NFL official, working as a line judge.
Jerome Boger's NFL Officiating Career
Jerome Boger joined the NFL in 2004. After two seasons as a line judge, he was promoted to referee in 2006. This was a big step in his career.
Before joining the NFL, Boger also worked as a referee in other leagues. These included Conference USA, the Arena Football League, and NFL Europa. He even officiated a championship game called World Bowl XIV in NFL Europe.
Notable Games Officiated by Jerome Boger
Boger was the referee for some memorable NFL games.
- In 2006, he officiated a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans. During this game, a player named Albert Haynesworth was ejected for stomping on another player. Haynesworth received a long suspension because of this incident.
- Also in 2006, Boger was the referee for a Monday Night game. In this game, the Chicago Bears made an amazing comeback to beat the Arizona Cardinals. It is remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in league history.
Jerome Boger and the Super Bowl
Jerome Boger was chosen to be the referee for Super Bowl XLVII. This big game was held in New Orleans on February 3, 2013. He was only the second African-American referee to officiate a Super Bowl. The first was Mike Carey five years earlier.
Boger was also an alternate referee for Super Bowl XLV. This means he was ready to step in if the main referee couldn't work the game. That Super Bowl was held on February 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas.
Jerome Boger's Retirement from the NFL
Jerome Boger announced his retirement from officiating in the NFL on March 2, 2023. He had a long and successful career as an NFL official.
