Oklahoma Coach to Become First Cherokee Nation Citizen to Referee Super Bowl

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Wickliffe Public Schools coach and Cherokee Nation citizen Jerod Phillips has been chosen to be the down judge at the Super Bowl LVII in February, becoming the first Cherokee Nation citizen to do so.

Phillips is a science teacher and coach at Wickliffe Public Schools in Mayes County, and the community is excited to rally around him.

The NFL announced the referee team for Super Bowl LVII on Tuesday, with Carl Cheffers as the referee, and Jerod Phillips as the down judge, Roy Ellison as the umpire, Jeff Bergman as the line judge, John Jenkins as the field judge, Eugene Hall as the side judge, Dino Paganelli as the back judge and Mark Butterworth as the replay official.

This is Phillip’s 7th year coaching in the NFL and his first time refereeing a Super Bowl.

Jerod Phillips