Jim Tunney, an NFL official for 30 years, has died at the age of 95.
Tunney was the referee for Super Bowl VI, Super Bowl XI and Super Bowl
Tunney was the NFL’s youngest official when he was hired in 1960 at age 30, and he continued to keep a keen eye on the game into his 90s, keeping a close eye on the officials when he watched games.
“I see a game on the field and I wonder where the side judge waswhere the back judge was, see where he was so he could make the call,” Tunney told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times this year. “When serving, it is positioning. If you are in the right position at the right time, you will make the right decision. We are trained that way.”
Tunney was candid that he didn’t think the referee was as good as the players, coaches and fans deserve.
“There are seventeen teams and we need seventeen good referees,” he said. “We don’t have that.”
At least everyone knew there was one good referee when Jim Tunney was working the game.
