The NFL, in trying to avoid further travel issues stemming from the FAA ground stop on Friday, has adjusted its officiating assignments for domestic games in Week 10, reassigning officials to games within driving distance of their hometowns.
Airlines across the U.S. worked Saturday to recover from the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years that canceled more than 2,000 flights, spread ripple effects around the world, stranded passengers and forced professional and college sports teams to scramble for alternate transportation.
The NFL’s changes mean three backup referees — umpires Barry Anderson and Duane Heydt and side judge Don Willard — will work as referees on Sunday.
Heydt will be at the Carolina–New Orleans game, while Anderson will serve as referee for Jacksonville at Tennessee.
Willard will serve double duty Sunday — at the Miami–Indianapolis game at 1 p.m. ET and then travel approximately 110 miles to work the Pittsburgh–Cincinnati game, which kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night.
The NFL said each of the league’s 17 officiating crews have a backup referee identified, and that the individual trains throughout the year to work at the referee position should the need arise.
The nationwide stop, attributed to new technology being added to the nation’s air traffic control system and causing “intermittent” communications and radar gaps, was the second since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
