Cal Lepore
Encyclopedia
Cal Lepore was a line judge and referee
in American Professional Football
. He officiated in the American Football League
from 1966 through 1969, and then in the NFL from 1970 through 1980. He worked the Third AFL-NFL Championship game
, won by the New York Jets
over the Baltimore Colts, after the 1968 season. After retiring, he was the supervisor of officials in the USFL.
Lepore is credited with promulgating the use of instant replay
as an officiating tool, as well as urging the use of coaches' challenges in Professional Football.
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
in American Professional Football
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
. He officiated in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
from 1966 through 1969, and then in the NFL from 1970 through 1980. He worked the Third AFL-NFL Championship game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
, won by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
over the Baltimore Colts, after the 1968 season. After retiring, he was the supervisor of officials in the USFL.
Lepore is credited with promulgating the use of instant replay
Instant replay
Instant replay is the replaying of video footage of an event or incident very soon after it has occurred. In television broadcasting of sports events, instant replay is often used during live broadcast, to show a passage of play which was important or remarkable, or which was unclear on first...
as an officiating tool, as well as urging the use of coaches' challenges in Professional Football.
See also
- American Football LeagueAmerican Football LeagueThe American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
- American Football League Officials
- List of American Football League players, coaches and contributors