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{{short description|American football official}}
{{short description|American football and college basketball official (born 1963)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Gene Steratore
| name = Gene Steratore
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| birth_name = Eugene Joseph Steratore
| birth_name = Eugene Joseph Steratore
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|2|8}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|2|8}}
| birth_place = [[Uniontown, Pennsylvania]]
| birth_place = [[Uniontown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| education = [[Kent State University]]
| education = [[Kent State University]]
| occupation = Rules analyst for [[CBS Sports]] and [[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|CBS/Turner NCAA March Madness]]<br>[[National Football League|NFL]] [[American football official|official]] (2003–2018)<br>[[NCAA]] basketball official (1995–2018)
| occupation = Rules analyst for [[CBS Sports]] and [[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|CBS/Turner NCAA March Madness]]<br>[[National Football League|NFL]] [[American football official|official]] (2003–2018)<br>[[NCAA]] basketball official (1995–2018)
| nationality = American
| website =
| website =
}}
}}
'''Eugene Joseph Steratore''' (born February 8, 1963)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2010/10/referee-gene-steratore-spoke-to-the-pool-reporter-about-todays-controversial-call-that-was-the-difference-in-score-between-th.html |title=Referee from Pittsburgh explains fumble ruling |last1=Salguero |first1=Armando |date=October 10, 2010 |via=MiamiHerald.Typepad.com |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |accessdate=January 15, 2015}}</ref> is a former [[American football official]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) since 2003. He announced his retirement from the NFL in June 2018.<ref name=retire>{{cite news |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/06/22/referee-gene-steratore-retiring-from-the-nfl/ |title=Referee Gene Steratore Retiring From The NFL |website=[[WBZ-TV]] |date=June 22, 2018 |accessdate=June 22, 2018}}</ref> He also worked as a [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] men's [[basketball]] referee from 1997 to 2018.<ref name="sbordennyt"/> Since the fall of 2018, Steratore has served as a rules analyst for [[CBS Sports]], including the ''[[NFL on CBS]]'', ''[[SEC on CBS]]'', ''[[College Basketball on CBS]]'', and ''[[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|CBS/Turner NCAA March Madness]]''.<ref name="rules analyst"/>
'''Eugene Joseph Steratore''' ({{IPAc-en|'|s|t|ɛr|ə|ˌ|t|ɔːr}}; born February 8, 1963)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2010/10/referee-gene-steratore-spoke-to-the-pool-reporter-about-todays-controversial-call-that-was-the-difference-in-score-between-th.html |title=Referee from Pittsburgh explains fumble ruling |last1=Salguero |first1=Armando |date=October 10, 2010 |via=MiamiHerald.Typepad.com |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=January 15, 2015}}</ref> is a former [[American football official]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 2003 until his retirement from the NFL in June 2018.<ref name=retire>{{cite news |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/06/22/referee-gene-steratore-retiring-from-the-nfl/ |title=Referee Gene Steratore Retiring From The NFL |website=[[WBZ-TV]] |date=June 22, 2018 |access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> He also worked as a [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA) [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] men's [[basketball]] referee from 1997 to 2018.<ref name="sbordennyt"/> Since the fall of 2018, Steratore has served as a rules analyst for [[CBS Sports]], including the ''[[NFL on CBS|NFL]]'', ''[[College Football on CBS Sports|college football]]'', ''[[College Basketball on CBS|college basketball]]'', and ''[[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|March Madness]]''.<ref name="rules analyst"/>


Steratore entered the league as a field judge and was promoted to referee at the start of the [[2006 NFL season|2006 season]], one of two new referees ([[Jerome Boger]] being the other) for that season, following the retirements of [[Bernie Kukar]] and [[Tom White (American football official)|Tom White]]. He wore uniform number 114. Steratore was chosen to be the alternate referee of [[Super Bowl XLIV]], which was held in Miami on February 7, 2010, and was chosen to be the referee for [[Super Bowl LII]], played on February 4, 2018 which would be his last game officiating.
Steratore entered the league as a field judge and was promoted to referee at the start of the [[2006 NFL season|2006 season]], one of two new referees ([[Jerome Boger]] being the other) for that season, following the retirements of [[Bernie Kukar]] and [[Tom White (American football official)|Tom White]]. He wore uniform number 114. Steratore was chosen to be the alternate referee of [[Super Bowl XLIV]], which was held in Miami on February 7, 2010, and was chosen to be the referee for [[Super Bowl LII]], played on February 4, 2018, which would be his last game officiating.


Steratore was one of two active NFL referees ([[Bill Vinovich]] being the other) who also officiated NCAA Division I men's basketball games.<ref name="sbordennyt">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/sports/for-two-way-referee-its-nfl-one-day-college-basketball-the-next.html |title=For Two-Way Referee, It’s N.F.L. One Day, College Basketball the Next |last1=Borden |first1=Sam |date=March 13, 2012 |via=NYTimes.com |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Steratore was one of two active NFL referees ([[Bill Vinovich]] being the other) who also officiated NCAA Division I men's basketball games.<ref name="sbordennyt">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/sports/for-two-way-referee-its-nfl-one-day-college-basketball-the-next.html |title=For Two-Way Referee, It's N.F.L. One Day, College Basketball the Next |last1=Borden |first1=Sam |date=March 13, 2012 |via=NYTimes.com |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Steratore is a bum because he said Dez Bryant didn’t catch the ball even though he really did.


==Career==
==Career==


===National Football League===
===National Football League===
Steratore took over briefly as referee during a regular-season game on December 28, 2003, between the [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[New York Giants]] after Bernie Kukar, the crew chief, was injured during a play in which he was hit in the back by the Giants' Clarence LeBlanc after a blocked punt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kukar hurt in Panthers-Giants game|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6960049|publisher=National Football League|date=December 28, 2003|accessdate=August 1, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209022813/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6960049|archivedate=February 9, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Steratore took over briefly as referee during a regular-season game on December 28, 2003, between the [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[New York Giants]] after Bernie Kukar, the crew chief, was injured during a play in which he was hit in the back by the Giants' Clarence LeBlanc after a blocked punt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kukar hurt in Panthers-Giants game|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6960049|publisher=National Football League|date=December 28, 2003|access-date=August 1, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209022813/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6960049|archive-date=February 9, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>


Steratore worked his first NFL playoff game as a referee between the [[Arizona Cardinals]] and the Carolina Panthers on January 10, 2009, at [[Bank of America Stadium]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. Exactly one year later, he refereed the [[Baltimore Ravens]]' 33–14 victory over the [[New England Patriots]] in an [[American Football Conference|American Football Conference (AFC)]] [[2009–10 NFL playoffs|Wild Card game]] at [[Gillette Stadium]] in [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/54805/NE_Gamebook.pdf Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, AFC Wild Card Playoff Game, Sunday, January 10, 2010 – National Football League.]</ref>
Steratore worked his first NFL playoff game as a referee between the [[Arizona Cardinals]] and the Carolina Panthers on January 10, 2009, at [[Bank of America Stadium]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. Exactly one year later, he refereed the [[Baltimore Ravens]]' 33–14 victory over the [[New England Patriots]] in an [[American Football Conference|American Football Conference (AFC)]] [[2009–10 NFL playoffs|Wild Card game]] at [[Gillette Stadium]] in [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]].<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/54805/NE_Gamebook.pdf Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, AFC Wild Card Playoff Game, Sunday, January 10, 2010 – National Football League.]</ref>


Steratore was involved in a controversial instant replay call during week 1 of the [[2010 NFL season]] between the [[Detroit Lions]] and the [[Chicago Bears]] at [[Soldier Field]] in [[Chicago]]. Late in the fourth quarter, Lions receiver [[Calvin Johnson]] caught what was originally ruled as the winning touchdown for Detroit. After Steratore conferred with the officials he overturned the call to an incomplete pass, ruling that Johnson lost control of the ball while going to the ground before he "completed the process of completing the catch".<ref name="ESPN_Johnson">{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/16142/like-it-or-not-megatron-call-was-right |title=Like it or not, Calvin Johnson call correct |last1=Seifert |first1=Kevin |date=September 12, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Steratore was supported by the NFL and backed by its former vice president of officiating, [[Mike Pereira]]. The rule has since been referred to as the "Calvin Johnson rule".<ref>{{cite news | title=NFL will not make changes to the 'Calvin Johnson rule' | url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/03/nfl-will-not-make-changes-to-the-calvin-johnson-rule/1#.UW4M0cpNX4w | newspaper=[[USA Today]] | date=March 14, 2011|accessdate=January 19, 2014|last1=Leahy|first1=Sean}}</ref>
Steratore was involved in a controversial instant replay call during week 1 of the [[2010 NFL season]] between the [[Detroit Lions]] and the [[Chicago Bears]] at [[Soldier Field]] in [[Chicago]]. Late in the fourth quarter, Lions receiver [[Calvin Johnson]] caught what was originally ruled as the winning touchdown for Detroit. After Steratore conferred with the officials he overturned the call to an incomplete pass, ruling that Johnson lost control of the ball while going to the ground before he "completed the process of completing the catch".<ref name="ESPN_Johnson">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/16142/like-it-or-not-megatron-call-was-right |title=Like it or not, Calvin Johnson call correct |last1=Seifert |first1=Kevin |date=September 12, 2010 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Steratore was supported by the NFL and backed by its former vice president of officiating, [[Mike Pereira]]. The rule has since been referred to as the "Calvin Johnson rule".<ref>{{cite news | title=NFL will not make changes to the 'Calvin Johnson rule' | url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2011/03/nfl-will-not-make-changes-to-the-calvin-johnson-rule/1#.UW4M0cpNX4w | newspaper=[[USA Today]] | date=March 14, 2011|access-date=January 19, 2014|last1=Leahy|first1=Sean}}</ref>


Steratore was selected as the first referee to officiate a game following the [[2012 NFL referee lockout]] on September 27, 2012,<ref name="USATODAY_Nate_Davis">{{cite news| url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/09/27/gene-steratore-official-referee-baltimore-ravens-cleveland-browns/70001259/1#.UGR4z1HZ3ni | title=Gene Steratore's officiating crew to work Browns-Ravens game | newspaper=[[USA Today]] | date=September 27, 2012}}</ref> a Thursday-night contest between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore crowd cheered Steratore and his crew as they entered the field.
Steratore was selected as the first referee to officiate a game following the [[2012 NFL referee lockout]] on September 27, 2012,<ref name="USATODAY_Nate_Davis">{{cite news| url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/09/27/gene-steratore-official-referee-baltimore-ravens-cleveland-browns/70001259/1#.UGR4z1HZ3ni | title=Gene Steratore's officiating crew to work Browns-Ravens game | newspaper=[[USA Today]] | date=September 27, 2012}}</ref> a Thursday-night contest between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore crowd cheered Steratore and his crew as they entered the field.


Steratore was named as referee for the NFC Championship game on January 19, 2014, between the [[Seattle Seahawks]] and [[San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/15/gene-steratore-tony-corrente-to-referee-league-championship-games/|title=Gene Steratore, Tony Corrente to referee league championship games|date=January 15, 2014|accessdate=January 19, 2014|last1=Crabtree|first1=Curtis|publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref>
Steratore was named as referee for the NFC Championship game on January 19, 2014, between the [[Seattle Seahawks]] and [[San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/15/gene-steratore-tony-corrente-to-referee-league-championship-games/|title=Gene Steratore, Tony Corrente to referee league championship games|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=January 19, 2014|last1=Crabtree|first1=Curtis|publisher=NBC Sports}}</ref>


Steratore was the referee during the [[2014–15 NFL playoffs|NFC divisional playoff]] game between the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and the [[Green Bay Packers]] on January 11, 2015, when a fourth-quarter, fourth-down catch by Cowboys wide receiver [[Dez Bryant]] was overturned using the "Calvin Johnson rule".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/158281/rapid-reaction-dez-bryant-catch-reversed-by-process-rule|title=Dez Bryant catch reversed by 'process rule'|publisher=ESPN.com|date=January 11, 2015|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref> The Packers challenged the call and after review, it was determined that the ball touched the ground before Bryant completed the catch.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maese|first=Rick|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/aided-by-overturned-dez-bryant-catch-packers-beat-cowboys-26-21-in-nfc-playoffs/2015/01/11/859d3d5a-99cf-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html|title=Aided by overturned Dez Bryant catch, Packers beat Cowboys 26-21 in NFC playoffs|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 11, 2015|accessdate=January 12, 2015}}</ref>
Steratore was the referee during the [[2014–15 NFL playoffs|NFC divisional playoff]] game between the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and the [[Green Bay Packers]] on January 11, 2015, when a fourth-quarter, fourth-down catch by Cowboys wide receiver [[Dez Bryant]] was overturned using the "Calvin Johnson rule".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 11, 2015 |title=Dez Bryant catch reversed by 'process rule' |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/158281/rapid-reaction-dez-bryant-catch-reversed-by-process-rule |access-date=January 12, 2015 |work=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Packers challenged the call and after review, it was determined that the ball touched the ground before Bryant completed the catch.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maese|first=Rick|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/aided-by-overturned-dez-bryant-catch-packers-beat-cowboys-26-21-in-nfc-playoffs/2015/01/11/859d3d5a-99cf-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html|title=Aided by overturned Dez Bryant catch, Packers beat Cowboys 26-21 in NFC playoffs|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 11, 2015|access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref>


In a game on December 17, 2017 between the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Oakland Raiders]], Steratore took the controversial step of employing an [[index card]] normally used for recording penalties to assist him in determining whether the Cowboys had made the line to gain for a first down. His ruling that they had done so allowed Dallas to kick a late field goal in their 20-17 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/gene-steratore-referee-card-measurement-dak-prescott-fourth-down-cowboys-raiders/1rwmv967e2kom1dxl457dvvm46?src=rss |title=Gene Steratore gives odd explanation after card trick in Cowboys-Raiders |last=Gatto |first=Tom |date=January 18, 2015 |publisher=Sportingnews.com |access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>
In a game on December 17, 2017, between the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Oakland Raiders]], Steratore took the controversial step of employing an [[index card]] normally used for recording penalties to assist him in determining whether the Cowboys had made the line to gain for a first down. His ruling that they had done so allowed Dallas to kick a late field goal in their 20–17 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/gene-steratore-referee-card-measurement-dak-prescott-fourth-down-cowboys-raiders/1rwmv967e2kom1dxl457dvvm46?src=rss |title=Gene Steratore gives odd explanation after card trick in Cowboys-Raiders |last=Gatto |first=Tom |date=January 18, 2015 |publisher=Sportingnews.com |access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>


Steratore was the referee for [[Super Bowl LII]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Super Bowl LII Officials Named|url=https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/Super-Bowl-LII-Officials-Names.aspx|publisher=National Football League|date=January 17, 2018|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}</ref>
Steratore was the referee for [[Super Bowl LII]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Super Bowl LII Officials Named|url=https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/Super-Bowl-LII-Officials-Names.aspx|publisher=National Football League|date=January 17, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>

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===Retirement from NFL===
Steratore's retirement as an NFL referee was announced by the circuit's Senior Vice President of Officiating [[Alberto Riveron]] on June 22, 2018. He was the fourth referee to retire during the 2018 offseason along with [[Ed Hochuli]], [[Jeff Triplette]] and [[Terry McAulay]].<ref>[https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-keeps-losing-refs-as-gene-steratore-becomes-fourth-official-to-retire-in-2018/ Breech, John. "NFL keeps losing refs as Gene Steratore becomes fourth official to retire in 2018," CBSSports.com, Friday, June 22, 2018.] Retrieved January 13, 2024.</ref>


⚫
=== Retirement from NFL===
On June 22, 2018, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating [[Alberto Riveron]] announced Steratore's retirement.
===CBS Sports and Turner Sports===
===CBS Sports and Turner Sports===
Following retirement, he joined CBS Sports as a [[rules analyst]]. CBS had not had a rules analyst on its staff since firing [[Mike Carey (American football official)|Mike Carey]] following the 2015 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/22/report-gene-steratore-to-join-cbs-as-rules-analyst/ |title=Report: Gene Steratore to join CBS as rules analyst |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2018-06-22 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en |access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> In addition to providing analysis for NFL officiating, Steratore also contributes in a similar role for the network's [[SEC on CBS|college football coverage]], ''[[College Basketball on CBS]]'' and [[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|NCAA March Madness]] on [[CBS Sports|CBS]]/[[Turner Sports|TBS/TNT/truTV]]. Steratore is unusual in that most other networks have not used a rules analyst for basketball or for college football.<ref name="rules analyst">{{Cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/26/cbs-announces-gene-steratore-as-nfl-college-basketball-rules-analyst/ |title=CBS announces Gene Steratore as NFL, college basketball rules analyst |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2018-06-26 |publisher=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com.com |access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref>
Following retirement, he joined CBS Sports as a [[rules analyst]]. CBS had not had a rules analyst on its staff since firing [[Mike Carey (American football official)|Mike Carey]] following the 2015 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/22/report-gene-steratore-to-join-cbs-as-rules-analyst/ |title=Report: Gene Steratore to join CBS as rules analyst |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2018-06-22 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en |access-date=2019-04-01}}</ref> In addition to providing analysis for NFL officiating, Steratore also contributes in a similar role for the network's [[SEC on CBS|college football coverage]], ''[[College Basketball on CBS]]'' and [[NCAA March Madness (TV program)|NCAA March Madness]] on [[CBS Sports|CBS]]/[[Turner Sports|TBS/TNT/truTV]]. Steratore is unusual in that most other networks have not used a rules analyst for basketball or college football.<ref name="rules analyst">{{Cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/06/26/cbs-announces-gene-steratore-as-nfl-college-basketball-rules-analyst/ |title=CBS announces Gene Steratore as NFL, college basketball rules analyst |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=2018-06-26 |publisher=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com.com |access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Steratore lives in his native [[Washington, Pennsylvania]], a suburb of [[Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/2012/02/02/2-Super-Bowl-officials-have-ties-to-area/stories/201202020495|title=2 Super Bowl officials have ties to area|
Steratore lives in his native [[Washington, Pennsylvania]], a suburb of [[Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/steelers/2012/02/02/2-Super-Bowl-officials-have-ties-to-area/stories/201202020495|title=2 Super Bowl officials have ties to area|
date=February 2, 2012|accessdate=January 19, 2014|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Indianapolis|publisher=PG Publishing Co., Inc.}}</ref>
date=February 2, 2012|access-date=January 19, 2014|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Indianapolis|publisher=PG Publishing Co., Inc.}}</ref>
Gene has an older brother, [[Tony Steratore|Tony]], also an NFL official, who is a back judge currently assigned to [[Jerome Boger]]'s officiating crew. His father, Gene Steratore Sr., was a [[college football]] official and [[basketball]] referee.<ref>{{cite news | first1=Gene|last1=Collier|last2=Bouchette |first2=Ed|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05034/452095.stm | title=Super Bowl Notebook: Big Ben's Super star turn is in a commercial | newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]| date= February 3, 2005| accessdate=August 1, 2006}}</ref>
Gene has an older brother, [[Tony Steratore|Tony]], who was also an NFL official until the 2021 offseason, when he retired. His father, Gene Steratore Sr., was a [[college football]] official and [[basketball]] referee.<ref>{{cite news | first1=Gene|last1=Collier|last2=Bouchette |first2=Ed|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05034/452095.stm | title=Super Bowl Notebook: Big Ben's Super star turn is in a commercial | newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]| date= February 3, 2005| access-date=August 1, 2006}}</ref>


Steratore and his brother are the co-owners of Steratore Sanitary Supply in Washington, Pennsylvania, outside of their NFL officiating duties.<ref>{{cite news|first=F. Dale |last=Lolley |url=http://observer-reporter.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=9785 |title=Porter set tone early, put pressure on Plummer |newspaper=Observer-Reporter |date=January 23, 2006 |accessdate=August 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808212737/http://observer-reporter.com/Main.asp?SectionID=7 |archivedate=August 8, 2006 }}</ref><ref>http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1207/brothers.html It's Not a Brother Thing {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120065407/http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1207/brothers.html |date=November 20, 2007 }}</ref>
Steratore and his brother are the co-owners of Steratore Sanitary Supply in Washington, Pennsylvania, outside of their NFL officiating duties.<ref>{{cite news|first=F. Dale |last=Lolley |url=http://observer-reporter.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=9785 |title=Porter set tone early, put pressure on Plummer |newspaper=Observer-Reporter |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=August 1, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808212737/http://observer-reporter.com/Main.asp?SectionID=7 |archive-date=August 8, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=It's Not a Brother Thing |url=http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1207/brothers.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120065407/http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1207/brothers.html |archive-date=2007-11-20 |newspaper=referee.com |date=November 20, 2007 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.referee.com/more/Samples/non_subscribers1207/brothers.html ''Referee'' magazine interview]
*[http://mmqb.si.com/2013/12/04/peter-king-spends-week-with-nfl-refs/ Game 150: A Week in the Life of an Officiating Crew]



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{{DEFAULTSORT:Steratore, Gene}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
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[[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]]
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[[Category:College football announcers]]
[[Category:College men's basketball referees in the United States]]
[[Category:College men's basketball referees in the United States]]
[[Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football players]]
[[Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football players]]
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[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:National Football League officials]]
[[Category:National Football League officials]]
[[Category:People from Washington, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:People from Washington, Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:21st-century American businesspeople]]
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[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
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[[Category:College basketball announcers in the United States]]
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[[Category:College football announcers]]

Latest revision as of 22:58, 16 October 2024

Gene Steratore
Born
Eugene Joseph Steratore

(1963-02-08) February 8, 1963 (age 61)
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationKent State University
Occupation(s)Rules analyst for CBS Sports and CBS/Turner NCAA March Madness
NFL official (2003–2018)
NCAA basketball official (1995–2018)

Eugene Joseph Steratore (/ˈstɛrəˌtɔːr/; born February 8, 1963)[1] is a former American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from 2003 until his retirement from the NFL in June 2018.[2] He also worked as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball referee from 1997 to 2018.[3] Since the fall of 2018, Steratore has served as a rules analyst for CBS Sports, including the NFL, college football, college basketball, and March Madness.[4]

Steratore entered the league as a field judge and was promoted to referee at the start of the 2006 season, one of two new referees (Jerome Boger being the other) for that season, following the retirements of Bernie Kukar and Tom White. He wore uniform number 114. Steratore was chosen to be the alternate referee of Super Bowl XLIV, which was held in Miami on February 7, 2010, and was chosen to be the referee for Super Bowl LII, played on February 4, 2018, which would be his last game officiating.

Steratore was one of two active NFL referees (Bill Vinovich being the other) who also officiated NCAA Division I men's basketball games.[3]

Career

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National Football League

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Steratore took over briefly as referee during a regular-season game on December 28, 2003, between the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants after Bernie Kukar, the crew chief, was injured during a play in which he was hit in the back by the Giants' Clarence LeBlanc after a blocked punt.[5]

Steratore worked his first NFL playoff game as a referee between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers on January 10, 2009, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Exactly one year later, he refereed the Baltimore Ravens' 33–14 victory over the New England Patriots in an American Football Conference (AFC) Wild Card game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.[6]

Steratore was involved in a controversial instant replay call during week 1 of the 2010 NFL season between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago. Late in the fourth quarter, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson caught what was originally ruled as the winning touchdown for Detroit. After Steratore conferred with the officials he overturned the call to an incomplete pass, ruling that Johnson lost control of the ball while going to the ground before he "completed the process of completing the catch".[7] Steratore was supported by the NFL and backed by its former vice president of officiating, Mike Pereira. The rule has since been referred to as the "Calvin Johnson rule".[8]

Steratore was selected as the first referee to officiate a game following the 2012 NFL referee lockout on September 27, 2012,[9] a Thursday-night contest between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore crowd cheered Steratore and his crew as they entered the field.

Steratore was named as referee for the NFC Championship game on January 19, 2014, between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.[10]

Steratore was the referee during the NFC divisional playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers on January 11, 2015, when a fourth-quarter, fourth-down catch by Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was overturned using the "Calvin Johnson rule".[11] The Packers challenged the call and after review, it was determined that the ball touched the ground before Bryant completed the catch.[12]

In a game on December 17, 2017, between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, Steratore took the controversial step of employing an index card normally used for recording penalties to assist him in determining whether the Cowboys had made the line to gain for a first down. His ruling that they had done so allowed Dallas to kick a late field goal in their 20–17 victory.[13]

Steratore was the referee for Super Bowl LII.[14]

Retirement from NFL

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Steratore's retirement as an NFL referee was announced by the circuit's Senior Vice President of Officiating Alberto Riveron on June 22, 2018. He was the fourth referee to retire during the 2018 offseason along with Ed Hochuli, Jeff Triplette and Terry McAulay.[15]

CBS Sports and Turner Sports

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Following retirement, he joined CBS Sports as a rules analyst. CBS had not had a rules analyst on its staff since firing Mike Carey following the 2015 season.[16] In addition to providing analysis for NFL officiating, Steratore also contributes in a similar role for the network's college football coverage, College Basketball on CBS and NCAA March Madness on CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV. Steratore is unusual in that most other networks have not used a rules analyst for basketball or college football.[4]

Personal life

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Steratore lives in his native Washington, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.[17] Gene has an older brother, Tony, who was also an NFL official until the 2021 offseason, when he retired. His father, Gene Steratore Sr., was a college football official and basketball referee.[18]

Steratore and his brother are the co-owners of Steratore Sanitary Supply in Washington, Pennsylvania, outside of their NFL officiating duties.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ Salguero, Armando (October 10, 2010). "Referee from Pittsburgh explains fumble ruling". Miami Herald. Retrieved January 15, 2015 – via MiamiHerald.Typepad.com.
  2. ^ "Referee Gene Steratore Retiring From The NFL". WBZ-TV. June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Borden, Sam (March 13, 2012). "For Two-Way Referee, It's N.F.L. One Day, College Basketball the Next". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ^ a b Alper, Josh (June 26, 2018). "CBS announces Gene Steratore as NFL, college basketball rules analyst". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com.com. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "Kukar hurt in Panthers-Giants game". National Football League. December 28, 2003. Archived from the original on February 9, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2006.
  6. ^ Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, AFC Wild Card Playoff Game, Sunday, January 10, 2010 – National Football League.
  7. ^ Seifert, Kevin (September 12, 2010). "Like it or not, Calvin Johnson call correct". ESPN.com. ESPN.
  8. ^ Leahy, Sean (March 14, 2011). "NFL will not make changes to the 'Calvin Johnson rule'". USA Today. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  9. ^ "Gene Steratore's officiating crew to work Browns-Ravens game". USA Today. September 27, 2012.
  10. ^ Crabtree, Curtis (January 15, 2014). "Gene Steratore, Tony Corrente to referee league championship games". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  11. ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 11, 2015). "Dez Bryant catch reversed by 'process rule'". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  12. ^ Maese, Rick (January 11, 2015). "Aided by overturned Dez Bryant catch, Packers beat Cowboys 26-21 in NFC playoffs". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  13. ^ Gatto, Tom (January 18, 2015). "Gene Steratore gives odd explanation after card trick in Cowboys-Raiders". Sportingnews.com. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl LII Officials Named" (Press release). National Football League. January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. ^ Breech, John. "NFL keeps losing refs as Gene Steratore becomes fourth official to retire in 2018," CBSSports.com, Friday, June 22, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Alper, Josh (June 22, 2018). "Report: Gene Steratore to join CBS as rules analyst". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  17. ^ "2 Super Bowl officials have ties to area". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Indianapolis: PG Publishing Co., Inc. February 2, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  18. ^ Collier, Gene; Bouchette, Ed (February 3, 2005). "Super Bowl Notebook: Big Ben's Super star turn is in a commercial". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 1, 2006.
  19. ^ Lolley, F. Dale (January 23, 2006). "Porter set tone early, put pressure on Plummer". Observer-Reporter. Archived from the original on August 8, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2006.
  20. ^ "It's Not a Brother Thing". referee.com. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007.
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