An FAA ground stop on Friday just threw a wrench into the NFL’s Week 10 plans, forcing one referee, Don Willard, to pull an absolutely wild double duty on Sunday. This isn’t just a minor travel tweak, folks, it’s an unprecedented situation that will have one man hopping into his car right after his first game to make it to his second.
A Ground Stop, Backup Refs, And One Incredible Schedule
The initial FAA ground stop caused chaos across the sports world, even moving a college football game to Sunday. But for the NFL, it meant officials had to scramble. The league announced that due to the travel adjustments, only officials “within driving distance of their hometowns” would be working Week 10 games. This immediately meant they needed three back-up refs to cover the schedule.
Don Willard’s Insane Sunday Doubleheader
That’s where Don Willard steps into the spotlight, because he’s about to have a Sunday unlike any other NFL official. Willard is scheduled to be in Indianapolis first, officiating the 1 p.m. ET game at Lucas Oil Stadium between the Colts and the Miami Dolphins. But his day is far from over when that final whistle blows. Right after, he’ll be jumping in his car and heading straight to Cincinnati. Why? To referee the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Bengals, which kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET. Talk about a brutal travel day on top of an already high-pressure job!
This is an unexpected event leading to what’s being called a potentially unprecedented situation. We’ve seen crazy things happen in the NFL, but a referee working two full games in two different cities on the same day? That’s just wild. You gotta wonder how much coffee Willard’s going to need to get through those nearly 12 hours of on-field action and travel.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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