Dick Hantak

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Dick Hantak was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 years between 1978 and 2003. During his career, he officiated in two Super Bowls, Super Bowl XVII in 1983 as a back judge and later as a referee in Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. He wore the uniform number 105.

Hantak was most notable for being involved in a game that would result in the elimination of the excessive crowd noise rule from the NFL because of the actions during an exhibition game preceding the 1989 NFL season between the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome. Prior to the snap to begin a play, Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason constantly complained to Hantak about the loud crowd noise inside of the dome and would embellish his reactions in protest over the newly created rule. Esiason would later admit that was put up to the task by then head coach Sam Wyche [1].

Dick ended his distinguished officiating career with a playoff game on January 11, 2003 between the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

As of the 2006 NFL season, Hantak serves as an NFL replay official, working on-site in the video officiating booth.

Hantak is a 1960 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma [2].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Paul, Zimmerman (2005-12-01). Quiet please. SI.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  2. ^ SIG TAU National Hall of Fame. Southeast Missouri State University. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
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