RONALD TORBERT will be the man in charge of the NFL's showpiece event. It will be his second time refereeing the Super Bowl, having first been tasked with the job in Super Bowl 56 between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Torbert, 61, began his NFL officiating career in 2010 as a side judge before becoming a referee in the 2014 NFL season. He graduated from Michigan State University and attended Harvard Law School, earning a Juris Doctor.
![[RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock (15107392dp) DETROIT,MICHIGAN-January 18: Referee Ronald Torbert #62 is seen prior to an NFL Divisional Playoff game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions, United States - 18 Jan 2025]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/RexShutterstockWashingtonCommandersvsDetroit15107392dpjpg-JS965066445.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Ohio-born referee is one of eight African-American referees in NFL history and was the second one to be named in any capacity when chosen as an alternate referee for Super Bowl LIII. The news of his selection for Sunday's game comes in the backdrop of alleged ‘rigged’ claims. Fans and some media analysts have continued to accuse officials of favouring the Kansas City Chiefs after a string of high-profile calls.
![[Seven NFL referees posing on a football field.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/referee-ronald-torbert-judge-max-964802358.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Ahead of the Super Bowl, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was forceful in his defence: "A lot of those theories are things that happen in social media, and they get a new life. "I understand that. I think it reflects a lot of the fans’ passion and is a reminder for us on how important officiating is. "I think the men and women officiating the NFL are outstanding. We have the highest possible standards.".
The NFL Referees Association then released a statement of their own, saying Goodell's comments were "spot on". The statement from executive director and former referee Scott Green added: "It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.". Torbert will be joined by the following:. The Philadelphia Eagles have played eight games with Torbert as the referee, with the most recent being the last regular season game of the 24/25 season.
