Steve Freeman

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Steve Freeman
Career information
Date of birth:	(1953-05-08) May 8, 1953
Place of birth:	Lamesa, Texas
Position(s):	Defensive back
College:	Mississippi State
NFL Draft:	1975 / Round: 5 / Pick 117 (By the New England Patriots)
Organizations
As player:
1975-1986 1987	Buffalo Bills Minnesota Vikings
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Steven Jay Freeman (born May 8, 1953 in Lamesa, Texas) is a former American football defensive back, and currently serves as an American football game official for the National Football League.

Freeman played college football at Mississippi State University, becoming the Bulldogs' leader in interceptions during the 1973 and 1974 seasons.^[1] He was later named as one of the Southeastern Conference Football Legends.^[2]

He was selected by the National Football League's New England Patriots during the 1975 NFL Draft. However, he was released by the Patriots before the start of the regular season, and eventually signed with the Buffalo Bills. Freeman spent 12 season with Buffalo, compiling 23 career interceptions and three touchdowns.^[3] In 1980 alone, he intercepted seven passes for 107 yards and one touchdown. He spent his last NFL season, 1987, with the Minnesota Vikings after being traded by the Bills.^[4]

After retiring as a player, Freeman became an American football official, working in college football's Southeastern Conference and NFL Europe before joining the NFL in 2001 as a back judge. As an official, he wears uniform number 133 and is on the officiating crew headed by referee Jeff Triplette.

One of Freeman's teammates in Buffalo was linebacker Jim Haslett, who later became head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Despite the fact the two men were teammates for several seasons, Freeman was not prohibited from working Saints games during Haslett's six-year tenure as the Saints coach from 2000-2005. While in the SEC, Freeman was prohibited from working Mississippi State games, as league rules do not allow officials to work games involving their alma mater.

Freeman currently resides in Mississippi and is married and has three children. Freeman's son, Brad, was a four-year letterman on the Mississippi State baseball team and helped the Bulldogs reach the College World Series in 1997 and 1998, and is now a field judge in the SEC.

References

↑ "Four named to MSU Sports Hall of Fame". Mississippi State University. 2000. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
↑ "Past SEC Football Legends". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
↑ Miller, Jeffrey J. (2012). "75: From Red, White and Blue to Black and White". 100 Things Bills Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 1600787282.
↑ "Where Are They Now: Steve Freeman". BuffaloBills.com. 2003-03-12. Archived from the original on 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2006-12-28.

v t e SEC Football Legends

Alabama Crimson Tide	Lee Roy Jordan Harry Gilmer Billy Neighbors John Hannah Holt Rast Johnny Musso Dwight Stephenson Joe Namath Vaughn Mancha Jeremiah Castille Cornelius Bennett Steve Sloan Ken Stabler Antonio Langham Bart Starr Bob Baumhower Cornelius Griffin Dennis Homan Paul Crane Marty Lyons

Arkansas Razorbacks	Lance Alworth Joe Ferguson Chuck Dicus Jim Benton Clyde Scott Bill Montgomery Ronnie Caveness Steve Atwater Loyd Phillips Wayne Harris Fred Marshall Quinn Grovey Ken Hatfield Wayne Harris Billy Ray Smith Gary Anderson Frank Broyles Leotis Harris Pat Summerall Wayne Martin

Auburn Tigers	Cam Newton Bo Jackson Pat Sullivan Tracy Rocker Tucker Frederickson Joe Cribbs Zeke Smith Jackie Burkett Stacy Danley Mike Kolen Terry Beasley Steve Wallace Jimmy "Red" Phillips Ed Dyas Al Del Greco Quentin Riggins Ken Rice Gregg Carr Buddy McClinton James C. Owens Frank Sanders

Florida Gators	Carlos Alvarez Jack Youngblood Kerwin Bell John Reaves Neal Anderson Nat Moore Glenn Cameron Huey Richardson Brad Culpepper Larry Smith Lomas Brown Trace Armstrong Louis Oliver Ralph Ortega Reidel Anthony Errict Rhett Kevin Carter Ike Hilliard Steve Tannen Wes Chandler

Georgia Bulldogs	Fran Tarkenton Herschel Walker Charley Trippi Bill Stanfill Terry Hoage John Rauch Kevin Butler Tommy Lyons Scott Woerner George Patton Matt Stinchcomb Mike Wilson Zeke Bratkowski Garrison Hearst Rex Robinson Eric Zeier Ben Zambiasi Boss Bailey David Greene Tim Worley

Kentucky Wildcats	Babe Parilli Derrick Ramsey Wallace Jones Jerry Claiborne Bob Gain Steve Meilinger Lou Michaels Sam Ball Art Still Dermontti Dawson George Blanda Warren Bryant Jeff Van Note Larry Seiple Jim Kovach Irv Goode Tim Couch Rodger Bird Sonny Collins Wilbur Hackett

LSU Tigers	Billy Cannon Jim Taylor Dalton Hilliard Charles Alexander Bert Jones Jerry Stovall Roy Winston Tommy Hodson Mike Anderson Eric Martin Paul Dietzel Y. A. Tittle Tommy Casanova Michael Brooks Lance Smith Wendell Davis Fred Miller George Bevan Kevin Mawae Kevin Faulk

Mississippi State Bulldogs	Johnny Baker Jimmy Webb Hunter Corhern Steve Freeman Johnie Cooks D. D. Lewis Kent Hull Rockey Felker Harper Davis Tyrone Keys Art Davis Joe Fortunato Billy Stacy Tom Goode Billy Jackson Wayne Harris Eric Moulds Tom Neville Walt Harris Glen Collins

Missouri Tigers	Johnny Roland Phil Bradley

Ole Miss Rebels	Charlie Conerly Archie Manning Barney Poole Johnny Vaught John "Kayo" Dottley Charlie Flowers Robert Khayat Ray Poole Ben Williams Billy Ray Adams Allen Brown Andre Townsend Jake Gibbs Wesley Walls Jimmy Lear Bobby Ray Franklin Everett Lindsay Deuce McAllister Glynn Griffing Jeff Herrod

South Carolina Gamecocks	George Rogers Alex Hawkins Sterling Sharpe Todd Ellis Bobby Bryant Rick Sanford Harold Green Robert Brooks Jeff Grantz Dickie Harris Dan Reeves Warren Muir Willie Scott Duce Staley Brad Edwards Tommy Suggs Andrew Provence Brandon Bennett Ko Simpson Max Runager

Tennessee Volunteers	Bob Johnson Doug Atkins Condredge Holloway Peyton Manning John Michels Richmond Flowers Steve Kiner Steve DeLong Stanley Morgan Reggie White Johnny Majors Frank Emanuel Larry Seivers Chip Kell Willie Gault Heath Shuler Doug Dickey Al Wilson Bobby Majors Peerless Price Inky Johnson

Texas A&M Aggies	John David Crow Dat Nguyen

Vanderbilit Commodores	Bill Wade Bob Asher John Hall Bucky Curtis Charley Horton Bob Werckle Herb Rich Will Wolford Jim Arnold Whit Taylor Boo Mitchell Chris Gaines Eric Jones Chuck Scott Shelton Quarles Jamie Duncan Corey Chavous Corey Harris Hunter Hillenmeyer Jimmy Williams

Persondata
Name	Freeman, Steve
Alternative names
Short description	American football player
Date of birth	May 8, 1953
Place of birth	Lamesa, Texas
Date of death
Place of death

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