FOX 2 – Usually, the best officials are the ones you don’t notice in games – but Shawn Smith defies that description, although not for any controversial calls Sunday.

The backstory:

The lead official at Super Bowl LX yesterday is a Detroit Cody High School graduate and Ferris State University alum.

A 1994 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy, Smith has been an alternate referee for a couple past Super Bowls but yesterday was his first time on the field.

According to Ferris State, Smith is in his 11th season as an NFL official and 8th as referee, which is the lead official, recognizable by the white cap.

The referee manages the entire officiating crew, announces the penalties, and is the final authority on rulings.

Smith got his start officiating Pop Warner games in junior high school and also officiated flag football at Eastern Michigan University, according to Football Zebras, a release by Ferris State University said.

The former Cody Comet was recruited to run track and play football at Eastern Michigan University before transferring to Ferris State.

While at Ferris, he began to officiate high school football and later to the Division II gridiron.

At the collegiate level, Smith officiated in Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, and the Big Ten Conference. He was hired by the NFL in 2025.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Referee Shawn Smith gives a thumbs-up prior to the start of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ke

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Well, now that Super Bowl 60 is over – the Seattle Seahawks triumphed over the New England Patriots, 29-13, for their second Lombardi Trophy – it’s time for Detroit Lions fans to start dreaming of Super Bowl 61.

The Lions have four NFL titles, but they remain the only NFL franchise that has existed for all 60 years of the Super Bowl era not to have made the big game. (The Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars also have never made the Super Bowl.)

So where (and when) should confident Lions fans be booking their tickets for now?

MICHIGAN MADE: How Mike Macdonald’s year at Michigan shaped Seahawks’ Super Bowl run

Super Bowl 61 is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027, and will be televised on ABC and ESPN. A good sign for Lions fans? ABC’s previous Super Bowl broadcast was in 2006 and also involve Detroit – when Ford Field hosted the Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers (who were victorious). 2027 will also be the first Super Bowl broadcast by ESPN.

The 2026 NFL season will feature the first Super Bowl played on Valentine’s Day, as the season won’t kick off until Sept. 10, and will end on Jan. 10.

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon said he took some calls ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. CBS News Detroit’s Rachel Hopmayer reports on the only move the team made and why the organization has confidence in their core players.