Tra Blake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tra Blake
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Blake in 2022
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Central Florida |
| Occupation | NFL official (2020–present) |
Jerome "Tra" Blake is an American professional football official in the National Football League (NFL). He has been an NFL official since the 2020 NFL season. When he started, he wore uniform number 33, but since 2022, he wears uniform number 3.
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What Does an NFL Official Do?
An NFL official is like a referee in other sports. They make sure the game follows the rules. Officials watch for penalties, decide when plays are over, and keep the game fair. They have different roles, like field judge, umpire, and referee, each with specific duties on the field.
Tra Blake's Journey as an Official
Before joining the NFL, Tra Blake worked as an official in college football. He officiated games in conferences like Conference USA and the Atlantic Coast Conference. He also worked in other professional football leagues, including the Alliance of American Football in 2019 and the XFL in 2020.
Joining the NFL
The NFL hired Blake in 2020. His first role was as a field judge. In 2021, he changed roles and became an umpire. Then, in 2022, he was promoted to a referee. The referee is the head official on the field. This happened after another referee, Tony Corrente, retired.
Tra Blake's Officiating Team in 2024
Officials work in teams during games. Here was Tra Blake's team of officials for the 2024 NFL season:
- R (Referee): Tra Blake
- U (Umpire): Carl Paganelli
- DJ (Down Judge): Patrick Turner
- LJ (Line Judge): Tom Eaton
- FJ (Field Judge): Mearl Robinson
- SJ (Side Judge): Don Willard
- BJ (Back Judge): Grantis Bell
- RO (Replay Official): Tyler Cerimeli
- RA (Replay Assistant): Tim Robinson
A Notable Game Moment
On October 24, 2024, during a regular season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams, a play happened that got a lot of attention. Rams linebacker Byron Young tackled Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in the end zone. This play resulted in a safety for the Rams. However, a penalty for a face mask was not called during this tackle.
Changing Roles in 2025
In 2025, Tra Blake's role changed again. He was reassigned from being a referee back to an umpire. Another official named Alex Moore took over as a referee.
Life Outside of Football
Tra Blake lives in Clermont, Florida. When he is not officiating NFL games, he works as a quality assurance director. He works for a company in Orlando that makes software for pharmaceutical companies.
