{{Short description|American football official (born 1964)}} {{pp-blp|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox person | image = 03 Jan 2021 - Eagles WashingtonFootball0067 Ronald Torbert (50808329481) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | name = Ronald Torbert | caption = Torbert in 2021 | birth_date = {{bda|1964|1|1}} | birth_place = Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = Michigan State University<br />Harvard Law School (JD) | occupation = NFL official (2010–present) | spouse = {{marriage|Melanie Torbert|1990}} | parents = | children = 2 | website = }}
'''Ronald Torbert''' (born January 1, 1964) is an American professional football official in the National Football League (NFL). He has been an official since the 2010 NFL season. He wears uniform number 62.
== Early life == After graduating from South High School in Youngstown, Ohio, Torbert graduated from Michigan State University and then attended Harvard Law School where he earned a JD.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allison |first=Ryan |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Ron visits old high school |url=https://www.wkbn.com/sports/nfl-referee-from-youngstown-visits-old-high-school |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=WKBN}}</ref><ref>2014 NFL Record & Fact Book</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shea |first=Bill |date=March 15, 2019 |title=How this Barton Malow executive balances work with 2nd life as an NFL referee |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/people/how-barton-malow-executive-balances-work-2nd-life-nfl-referee |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Crain's Detroit Business}}</ref> At Harvard, Torbert was president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ron Torbert - Construction Owners Association of America, Inc |url=https://www.coaa.org/Spring_2021/ron-torbert |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.coaa.org}}</ref>
== Career == Torbert began his NFL officiating career in 2010 as a side judge before becoming a referee in the 2014 NFL season after Scott Green and Ron Winter announced they were retiring. Torbert is one of eight African-American referees in NFL history, after Johnny Grier, Mike Carey, Jerome Boger, and Don Carey; he preceded Shawn Smith, Adrian Hill, and Tra Blake.
Torbert was the alternate referee for Super Bowl LIII. He is also featured in the NFL 100-year anniversary video which aired during that Super Bowl.
On January 25, 2022, Torbert was named the referee for Super Bowl LVI.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Siciliano |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Siciliano |user=AndrewSiciliano |number=1486039924289593348 |date=January 25, 2022 |title=NFL announces Ron Torbert will be the referee for Super Bowl LVI |language=en |access-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129073946/https://twitter.com/andrewsiciliano/status/1486039924289593348 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Ron Torbert named Super Bowl LVI referee |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ron-torbert-named-super-bowl-lvi-referee |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 21, 2025, he was named the referee for Super Bowl LIX.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zucker |first=Joseph |date=January 21, 2025 |title=NFL Super Bowl 59 Referee Crew Announced Featuring Ron Torbert, Mike Morton |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10151689-nfl-super-bowl-59-referee-crew-announced-featuring-ron-torbert-mike-morton |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2024 crew === * R: '''Ron Torbert''' * U: Barry Anderson * DJ: Frank LeBlanc * LJ: Brian Bolinger * FJ: Ryan Dickson * SJ: Keith Washington * BJ: Tony Josselyn * RO: Mike Chase * RA: Jamie Alfieri-Tuss Source:<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-28 |title=Officiating crews for the 2024 season |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2024/05/officiating-crews-for-the-2024-season/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Football Zebras |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Outside of his NFL officiating job, Torbert was an attorney, retiring in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Childs |date=2022-02-10 |title=Hanover resident Ron Torbert to referee Super Bowl 56 in 'highlight' of 33-year officiating career |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/02/10/hanover-resident-ron-torbert-to-referee-super-bowl-56-in-highlight-of-33-year-officiating-career/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ron Torbert - Construction Owners Association of America, Inc |url=https://www.coaa.org/Spring_2021/ron-torbert |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.coaa.org}}</ref> With his wife Melanie, he has a son and a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ron Torbert - Construction Owners Association of America, Inc |url=https://www.coaa.org/Spring_2021/ron-torbert |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.coaa.org}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{NFL referees}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torbert, Ronald}} Category:Living people Category:NFL officials Category:Michigan State University alumni Category:African-American referees and umpires Category:1964 births Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:21st-century African-American people Category:People from Youngstown, Ohio