Re: Vinovitch lead ref for NFC championship

Bill Vinovich was the referee in Super Bowl XLIX and will now head his third Conference Championship in four seasons.

Vinovich was hired by the NFL in 2001, and was on medical leave for 5 seasons, making this his 13th season on the field. While on leave, Vinovich worked as a regional supervisor and grader in the league office. He is now completing his 10th season, nonconsecutive, as referee.

This is his 12th postseason assignment and 4th Conference Championship. He has also worked 3 Wild Card Playoffs, 4 Divisional Playoffs, and the Super Bowl.

Vinovich officiated the game between these two teams earlier this season in Week 9, which also took place in New Orleans.

Vinovich lives in Lake Forest, Calif., and is a Division I college basketball referee and a certified public accountant.


Yrs 2018 crew College Occupation
R 52 Bill Vinovich 13 San Diego certified public accountant
U 102 Bruce Stritesky 13 Vinovich Embry Riddle airline pilot
DJ 13 Patrick Turner 5 Corrente Cal State-Long Beach plant manager
LJ 59 Rusty Baynes 9 Boger Auburn-Montgomery general manager, safety services*
FJ 97 Tom Hill 20 Hochuli Carson Newman teacher*
SJ 60 Gary Cavaletto 16 Vinovich Hancock general manager, agricultural operations
BJ 30 Todd Prukop 10 Corrente Cal State-Fullerton medical sales representative

*indicates full-time official

Replay official: Mike Wimmer
Replay assistant: Bill Ellis
Alternates: Jerome Boger (R), Mark Perlman (LJ), Steve Freeman (BJ)

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