Michigan
Super Bowl 59 referee Ron Torbert is a Michigan State graduate
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- Ron Torbert, a Michigan State and Harvard alum, will be the referee for Super Bowl 59.
- Torbert has been an NFL official for 15 years and this will be his second Super Bowl.
- Torbert’s officiating crew called an average of 14.13 penalties per game this season, slightly above the league average.
Sunday’s referee for Super Bowl 59, Ron Torbert, should look familiar to Detroit Lions fans, as well as some Michigan State fans.
The 61-year-old is a Michigan State alumnus, as well as a Harvard alum. He also reffed the Lions’ lone playoff game this postseason, a 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders on Jan. 18.
As for Sunday’s competitors: The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-2 in recent years with Torbert, while the Kansas City Chiefs are 3-1.
A 15-year-veteran, Torbert has officiated at least one playoff game in 11 years, including Super Bowl 56 in 2021 between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. Sunday was his 14th playoff game assignment. In addition to his responsibilities as an NFL referee, Torbert is an attorney .
According to Pro Football Reference, Torbert’s crew called 226 penalties worth 1,903 yards across 16 regular-season games this season. His crew averaged 14.13 penalties per game for an average of 118.94 yards between two teams. Those numbers are slightly above the 2024 league average of 12.86 penalties per game for 104.33 yards.
An NFL referee crew consists of seven positions — the referee, umpire, down judge, line judge, back judge, side judge and field judge. The rest of Sunday’s officials: Umpire Mike Morton; down judge Max Causey; line judge Mark Stewart; field judge Mearl Robinson; back judge Jonah Monroe; replay official Kevin Brown.