Shawn Smith (American football) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Shawn Smith
Smith with a coin flip (Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants, 2018)
Occupation	NFL official (2015–), auditor

Shawn Smith is a professional football official in the National Football League (NFL). He helps make sure games are played fairly. You can spot him on the field wearing uniform number 14.

Shawn Smith's Journey in the NFL

Shawn Smith started his career in the NFL in the 2015 season. Back then, he worked as an umpire. An umpire is an official who stands behind the line of scrimmage and watches for fouls.

After a few years, Shawn Smith was promoted to a referee for the 2018 season. The referee is the head official on the field. They are in charge of the game and make the final decisions. This promotion was a big deal for Shawn. He became one of only six African American referees in the history of the NFL. Other notable African American referees include Johnny Grier and Mike Carey.

Life Beyond the Football Field

When Shawn Smith is not on the football field, he has another important job. He works as an internal auditor. This means he helps check financial records for a company in Southfield, Michigan. It shows that even professional sports officials have other careers!

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