If you are an experienced football official looking for a shot at the NFL, here are the minimum requirements necessary to qualify as an official in the National Football League:
• Must have a minimum of 10 years experience officiating football, at least five of which must have been at a varsity collegiate or another professional level.
• Must be in excellent physical condition.
• Must belong to an accredited football officials association or have experience in football as a player or coach.
• Each candidate must furnish the NFL with a detailed copy of his officiating schedule for the past three seasons, listing dates, schools, location of games, and positions worked.
If you feel you meet the NFL's requirements, submit all the required information to:
NFL Officiating
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Completing his 11th season as an NFL official, McAulay also worked the 2005 Super Bowl, in which the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles.
He has officiated in nine playoff games: One Super Bowl, five conference championship games, two divisional playoffs and one wild-card game. He refereed Baltimore's victory over Tennessee in the divisional playoffs this month.
McAulay earned the assignment through the league's evaluation system in which the highest-rated officials at each position with the required experience are chosen to work the game. Super Bowl officials must have at least five years of NFL experience and previous playoff assignments.
Other members of the Super Bowl officiating crew are umpire Roy Ellison, head linesman Derick Bowers, line judge Mark Perlman, field judge Greg Gautreaux, side judge Michael Banks, back judge Keith Ferguson, and replay official Bob McGrath.
In all, the crew has 55 years of NFL officiating experience and 43 playoff game assignments.