Terry Gierke
Encyclopedia
Terry Gierke was an American football official in the National Football League
(NFL) for 21 seasons as a head linesman from 1981 to 2001. During his NFL career, Gierke officiated in the playoffs for 19 seasons which included Super Bowl XXI
in 1987 and 3 conference championship games. He wore the uniform number 72.
Terry started officiating career in 1962 in Portland, Oregon
and later moved to college football in 1966, working both Division II and III games. In 1971, Gierke joined the Pac-8 (later the Pac-10) where he stayed until 1980 before accepted to the NFL in 1981.
Since retiring from active officiating, Gierke continues to work for the NFL as a Game Observer and College Scout. He also founded the "Alliance To Promote Football Officiating" in 2000 where he continues to assist and train high school and college officials to advance to the next level.
Gierke was the head linesman in the 1993 AFC Wild Card playoff game
between the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills
which would later become known in NFL lore as "The Comeback
". He was also the head linesman on Jerry Markbreit
's officiating crew from the 1995
to 1998 NFL season
s. Markbreit, a four-time Super Bowl referee who retired after the 1998 season, and his crews were highly praised for their work on the field by announcers and football
fans.
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) for 21 seasons as a head linesman from 1981 to 2001. During his NFL career, Gierke officiated in the playoffs for 19 seasons which included Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XXI was an American football game played on January 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1986 regular season. The National Football Conference champion New York Giants won their first Super Bowl by defeating...
in 1987 and 3 conference championship games. He wore the uniform number 72.
Terry started officiating career in 1962 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and later moved to college football in 1966, working both Division II and III games. In 1971, Gierke joined the Pac-8 (later the Pac-10) where he stayed until 1980 before accepted to the NFL in 1981.
Since retiring from active officiating, Gierke continues to work for the NFL as a Game Observer and College Scout. He also founded the "Alliance To Promote Football Officiating" in 2000 where he continues to assist and train high school and college officials to advance to the next level.
Gierke was the head linesman in the 1993 AFC Wild Card playoff game
NFL playoffs, 1992-93
The NFL playoffs following the 1992 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXVII.-Bracket:-NFC: Washington Redskins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7:Running back Brian Mitchell led the Redskins to the 24-7 victory with 109 rushing yards and 100 total yards on receptions and punt returns...
between the Houston Oilers and 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...
which would later become known in NFL lore as "The Comeback
The Comeback (American football)
The Comeback was a NFL playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers played January 3, 1993. It featured the Bills recovering from a 32-point deficit to win in overtime, and it remains the largest comeback in NFL history...
". He was also the head linesman on Jerry Markbreit
Jerry Markbreit
Jerry Markbreit is a former American football referee in the National Football League for 23 seasons and became one of the most recognizable referees in the game. Markbreit officiated football games for 43 seasons. From 1965 to 1975, Markbreit officiated college football games in the Big Ten...
's officiating crew from the 1995
1995 NFL season
The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
to 1998 NFL season
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
s. Markbreit, a four-time Super Bowl referee who retired after the 1998 season, and his crews were highly praised for their work on the field by announcers and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
fans.
External links
- Terry Gierke - NFL Football Officials Camps, LLC (Accessed August 17, 2006).