A day after his crew botched the AFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, it looks like one of the central figures is calling it quits on his long career.
Veteran official Jeff Triplette will reportedly retire from the game after more than two decades wearing the zebra suit.
Aditi Kinkhabwala ✔ @AKinkhabwala Referee Jeff Triplette, who worked yesterday's #Titans-#Chiefs Wild Card game, has told folks around him he's retiring from @NFL officiating. And the heartfelt hugs he exchanged w/ his crew after dinner last night? Def looked like good-byes.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2018-01-07T10:54:51+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: January 07, 2018 10:54:51 (UTC)">5:54 AM - Jan 7, 2018</time>
Triplette has a reputation around the NFL as being one of the worst officials. This came out in droves Saturday in Kansas City. Among the missteps by his crew, a Marcus Mariota fumble and ensuing recovery by the Chiefs was ruled dead when officials concluded that the quarterback’s forward progress had been stopped. And that cost the Chiefs six points in what ultimately ended up being a one-point loss.
The performance of the officials was so bad that it forced former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira to put them on blast after the game.
Mike Pereira ✔ @MikePereira
Horrible way to start the playoffs. I hate to say it but this was not a good performance by the crew. Teams and fans deserve better.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2018-01-07T00:50:56+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: January 07, 2018 00:50:56 (UTC)">7:50 PM - Jan 6, 2018</time>
One has to wonder if this all had a role in Triplette’s decision to retire from officiating. But one of the most recognizable figures in officiating around the NFL has now called it quits.
Veteran official Jeff Triplette will reportedly retire from the game after more than two decades wearing the zebra suit.
Aditi Kinkhabwala ✔ @AKinkhabwala Referee Jeff Triplette, who worked yesterday's #Titans-#Chiefs Wild Card game, has told folks around him he's retiring from @NFL officiating. And the heartfelt hugs he exchanged w/ his crew after dinner last night? Def looked like good-byes.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2018-01-07T10:54:51+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: January 07, 2018 10:54:51 (UTC)">5:54 AM - Jan 7, 2018</time>
Triplette has a reputation around the NFL as being one of the worst officials. This came out in droves Saturday in Kansas City. Among the missteps by his crew, a Marcus Mariota fumble and ensuing recovery by the Chiefs was ruled dead when officials concluded that the quarterback’s forward progress had been stopped. And that cost the Chiefs six points in what ultimately ended up being a one-point loss.
The performance of the officials was so bad that it forced former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira to put them on blast after the game.
Mike Pereira ✔ @MikePereira
Horrible way to start the playoffs. I hate to say it but this was not a good performance by the crew. Teams and fans deserve better.
<time class="dt-updated" datetime="2018-01-07T00:50:56+0000" pubdate="" title="Time posted: January 07, 2018 00:50:56 (UTC)">7:50 PM - Jan 6, 2018</time>
One has to wonder if this all had a role in Triplette’s decision to retire from officiating. But one of the most recognizable figures in officiating around the NFL has now called it quits.
