Jerry Markbreit

Jerry Markbreit is renowned for his dual expertise in both the corporate and sports arenas. As a trade and barter manager for 3M, he skillfully negotiated and traded millions of dollars in advertising, media time, and materials with businesses globally. Parallel to his corporate career, he was a distinguished figure on the sports field, serving as one of only sixteen National Football League referees. His journey in football officiating began with nine years in amateur football, followed by a stint on the Big Ten Football officiating staff. Markbreit's presence marked key games such as the early 1970's Ohio State/Michigan matches and the 1996 Notre Dame/Michigan State National Championship Game, establishing him as a key figure in college football.

Markbreit also contributed to the sports journalism field, writing a weekly football column for the Chicago Sun Times and, until 2008, a sports column for the Chicago Tribune during football season. He has authored three books: "The Armchair Referee," his autobiography "Born to Referee," and "Last Call: Memoirs of an NFL Referee."

Best known for his extensive career as an NFL referee, Markbreit retired in 1998 after 23 seasons, leaving behind a legacy peppered with major games including Superbowls 17, 21, 26, and 29, along with 8 Championship Games. Post-retirement, he served as a replay official during the 1999 and 2000 NFL seasons and was appointed as the head trainer for all NFL Referees starting in the 2001 season. His contributions to sports were recognized with his induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.