Play it Again

Not many law professors have an eye for football as Darryll Lewis ’75 does. After 16 years as an NFL line judge, he’s now preparing for his fourth season as a replay official. His job is to “direct the activities of all those in the replay booth in an effort to get to the referee and New York the best angles to demonstrate the accuracy—or inaccuracy—of an on-field ruling,” he says. During games Lewis works onsite with a replay assistant, booth technician and booth communicator. He’s also in touch with NFL VP of officiating Dean Blandino in New York. Their work comes into question from Monday morning quarterbacks every week. “Often camera angles are not indisputable,” says Lewis of controversial calls, and “create doubt whether an apparently erroneous on-field ruling can be reversed.”

An expert in economic law, the econ major opened his own law practice before he became an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1986. Before fulfilling a dream with his NFL gig, he officiated at a variety of levels.

Although Lewis misses being a line judge, his current role still comes with the challenge of making correct calls. He also has the pressure of unilaterally halting play if he thinks a review is in order during the final two minutes of a game. Does he foresee a day when lasers and other technology will constitute all officiating? “Technology, although not perfect, is a useful aid,” says Lewis. “However, technology will not replace the human element necessary in a game played by human beings.”

Sean Plottner