Ron Blum
Encyclopedia
Ron Blum was an American football official in the National Football League
(NFL) from the 1985 NFL season
through the 2007 NFL season
. He joined the league as a line judge, officiating Super Bowl XXIV
in 1990 and Super Bowl XXVI
in 1992 and later became a referee for the start of the 1993 NFL season
, replacing retired legend Pat Haggerty
. Blum moved back to line judge beginning with the 2004 NFL season
, and he has worked the past three seasons on the crew of referee Tony Corrente.
Blum wore the uniform number 83 from the 1985 to 1992 seasons and the number 7 from 1993 through 2007. He was the first non-referee to wear the uniform number 7; the number belonged to long-time referees Tommy Bell
and Fred Silva
before Blum assumed it upon his promotion to crew chief. Side judge Keith Washington took the number upon Blum's retirement.
In the offseason, Blum is a golf professional. For a number of years in the 1960s and 1970s, he was the head golf pro at the Sonoma National Golf Course in Sonoma County, California.http://bengals.enquirer.com/2003/01/17/wwwrefs.html
Blum was the referee for the San Diego Chargers
' 27–17 victory over the New York Giants
at Giants Stadium
on December 23, 1995. The contest was notable because both teams, the game officials and other field-level personnel spent the entire second half dodging snowball
s hurled by unruly fan
s. A few such projectiles hit Blum's leg
s. When he picked up a telephone
on the Chargers' sidelines to make a call to request that a verbal warning to the crowd be made over the public address system
, a snowball narrowly missed hitting him. Instead it struck Chargers equipment manager
Sid Brooks, who was knocked unconscious
and had to be removed from the sidelines on a stretcher
.
Blum's career is highlighted by a very controversial call in the divisional round playoff game between Pittsburgh Steelers
and the Tennessee Titans
in January, 2003. After Titans Kicker Joe Nedney
missed a short field goal, he was given another chance when Blum flagged Steelers Cornerback Dewayne Washington
for running into the kicker. Some argue that replays provide evidence of Nedney falling into Washington. The call allowed Nedney another opportunity at the kick, which he made to end the game. The sequence has led Steeler fans to dub the play as the Music City Miracle
Remix, alluding to the kick return of the Titans against the Buffalo Bills
that ignited Tennessee's only Super Bowl
run.
Ron Blum retired after the 2007 season.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) from the 1985 NFL season
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
through the 2007 NFL season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
. He joined the league as a line judge, officiating Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XXIV was an American football game played on January 28, 1990 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1989 regular season...
in 1990 and Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
in 1992 and later became a referee for the start of the 1993 NFL season
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, replacing retired legend Pat Haggerty
Pat Haggerty (American football official)
Patrick "Pat" Haggerty was an American football official in the National Football League from 1965 to 1992. In his 28 seasons in the NFL, he was selected as the referee in three Super Bowls, XIII in 1979, XVI in 1982, and XIX in 1985...
. Blum moved back to line judge beginning with the 2004 NFL season
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, and he has worked the past three seasons on the crew of referee Tony Corrente.
Blum wore the uniform number 83 from the 1985 to 1992 seasons and the number 7 from 1993 through 2007. He was the first non-referee to wear the uniform number 7; the number belonged to long-time referees Tommy Bell
Tommy Bell (American football official)
Tommy Bell was an American football official in the National Football League . He officiated Super Bowl III in 1969 and Super Bowl VII in 1973. He is also the only official in history to referee in both a Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four...
and Fred Silva
Fred Silva
Fred Silva was an American football official in the National Football League for 21 seasons from 1968 to 1988. Silva was widely known for his coolness under fire on the football field and clapping his hand together when signaling a first down...
before Blum assumed it upon his promotion to crew chief. Side judge Keith Washington took the number upon Blum's retirement.
In the offseason, Blum is a golf professional. For a number of years in the 1960s and 1970s, he was the head golf pro at the Sonoma National Golf Course in Sonoma County, California.http://bengals.enquirer.com/2003/01/17/wwwrefs.html
Blum was the referee for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
' 27–17 victory over the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
on December 23, 1995. The contest was notable because both teams, the game officials and other field-level personnel spent the entire second half dodging snowball
Snowball
A snowball is a spherical object made from snow, usually created by scooping snow with the hands, and compacting it into a roughly fist-sized ball. The snowball is often used to engage in games, such as snowball fights. Snowball fights are usually light-hearted and involve throwing snowballs at...
s hurled by unruly fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
s. A few such projectiles hit Blum's leg
Human leg
The human leg is the entire lower extremity or limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region; however, the precise definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle.Legs are used for standing,...
s. When he picked up a telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
on the Chargers' sidelines to make a call to request that a verbal warning to the crowd be made over the public address system
Public address
A public address system is an electronic amplification system with a mixer, amplifier and loudspeakers, used to reinforce a sound source, e.g., a person giving a speech, a DJ playing prerecorded music, and distributing the sound throughout a venue or building.Simple PA systems are often used in...
, a snowball narrowly missed hitting him. Instead it struck Chargers equipment manager
Equipment manager
An equipment manager is a person who is in charge of a sports team's equipment. In professional and Collegiate sports, this is usually a full-time job....
Sid Brooks, who was knocked unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
and had to be removed from the sidelines on a stretcher
Stretcher
A stretcher is a medical device used to carry casualties or an incapacitated person from one place to another. It is a simple type of litter, and still called by that name in some cases....
.
Blum's career is highlighted by a very controversial call in the divisional round playoff game between Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in January, 2003. After Titans Kicker Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
missed a short field goal, he was given another chance when Blum flagged Steelers Cornerback Dewayne Washington
Dewayne Washington
Dewayne Neron Washington is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings , the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Jacksonville Jaguars , and the Kansas City Chiefs...
for running into the kicker. Some argue that replays provide evidence of Nedney falling into Washington. The call allowed Nedney another opportunity at the kick, which he made to end the game. The sequence has led Steeler fans to dub the play as the Music City Miracle
Music City Miracle
The Music City Miracle is the name commonly given to a play that took place on January 8, 2000 during the National Football League's 1999–2000 playoffs...
Remix, alluding to the kick return of the Titans against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
that ignited Tennessee's only Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
run.
Ron Blum retired after the 2007 season.