Ron Blum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ron Blum is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 1985 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 refreee Tony Corrente.

Blum wore the uniform number 83 from the 1985 to 1992 seasons and the number 7 since 1993. He is 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.

In the offseason, Blum is a golf professional For a number of years in the 1960's and 1970's, he was the head golf pro at the Sonoma National Golf Course in Sonoma County, California.[1].

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 will retire after the 2007 Season