Detroit’s Shawn Smith, a Ferris State University alum, has been named head official for Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the NFL announced.
Smith, in his 11th NFL season and eighth as a referee, previously served as alternate referee at Super Bowls LV and LVIII. This year, he will lead the officiating crew, announce penalties, and make final rulings on the field. ClickOnDetroit notes that his appointment reflects his steady rise in NFL officiating.
With last year’s Super Bowl drawing nearly 130 million viewers, expectations are high for a well-officiated game. Smith began officiating in junior high with Pop Warner and continued through college, including flag football at Eastern Michigan University. "I’ve had probably a thousand text messages from people who heard the news," Smith said in a statement to Ferris State University. "I’m trying to get back to everyone. But every time I look, there are 100 more!"
Reflecting on his milestone, Smith expressed gratitude for the countless individuals who have played a role in his professional journey, "I'm humbled, but very excited by this opportunity," he told MLive. "So many people built the foundation for this to happen. A lot of folks created opportunities for me." After transferring to Ferris State, Smith moved on to officiate high school football and rose through the ranks to Division II games before eventually joining the NFL in 2015.
Super Bowl LX will feature Smith with a seasoned officiating crew: umpire Roy Ellison and side judge Eugene Hall (their fourth Super Bowl), back judge Greg Steed (third), and down judge Dana McKenzie (second). Officers Julian Mapp, Jason Ledet, and replay official Andrew Lambert will also join the team. The game will pit the AFC champions, the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, against the NFC contenders, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
