Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Gene Steratore

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Gene Steratore made an impact.

Gene Steratore is a former NFL and NCAA Division I men's basketball official. He officiated in the NFL from 2003 until his retirement in June 2018. Concurrently, he also worked as a basketball referee from 1997 to 2018. Following his officiating career, Steratore transitioned to broadcasting, becoming a rules analyst for CBS Sports in the fall of 2018. He provides analysis for NFL, college football, college basketball games, and March Madness.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1997: NCAA Referee

In 1997, Gene Steratore began working as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball referee, a role he held until 2018.

December 28, 2003: Briefly Took Over as Referee

On December 28, 2003, Gene Steratore briefly took over as referee during a game between the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants after the crew chief, Bernie Kukar, was injured.

2003: Joined the NFL

In 2003, Gene Steratore started his career as an American football official in the National Football League (NFL).

2006: Promotion to Referee

In 2006, Gene Steratore was promoted to referee in the NFL, following the retirements of Bernie Kukar and Tom White.

January 10, 2009: First NFL Playoff Game as Referee

On January 10, 2009, Gene Steratore worked his first NFL playoff game as a referee between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers.

February 7, 2010: Alternate Referee of Super Bowl XLIV

On February 7, 2010, Gene Steratore was chosen to be the alternate referee of Super Bowl XLIV, held in Miami.

2010: Controversial Instant Replay Call

In 2010, during week 1 of the NFL season, Gene Steratore was involved in a controversial instant replay call between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears. He overturned a call that was originally ruled as the winning touchdown for Detroit, which led to the rule being referred to as the "Calvin Johnson rule".

September 27, 2012: Officiated First Game After Referee Lockout

On September 27, 2012, Gene Steratore was selected as the first referee to officiate a game following the 2012 NFL referee lockout, between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.

January 19, 2014: Referee for NFC Championship Game

On January 19, 2014, Gene Steratore was named as referee for the NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

January 11, 2015: NFC Divisional Playoff Game Controversy

On January 11, 2015, Gene Steratore was the referee during the NFC divisional playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, where a fourth-down catch by Dez Bryant was overturned using the "Calvin Johnson rule".

2015: Mike Carey firing

After the 2015 season, CBS fired Mike Carey, and Gene Steratore eventually filled his position.

December 17, 2017: Index Card Controversy

On December 17, 2017, during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders, Gene Steratore used an index card to determine whether the Cowboys had made the line to gain for a first down, leading to controversy.