Steratore retires as NFL referee
Gene Steratore is going out on a high note.
After spending 15 years as an NFL official, the last 12 seasons as a referee in the league, Steratore retired Friday, according to NFL vice president of officiating Al Riveron.
The last game Steratore, a Washington resident, officiated was Super Bowl LII Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. It was his first Super Bowl assignment. He was an alternate referee for the 2010 Super Bowl.
Steratore officiated 12 playoff games, including six divisional playoffs and two conference championships, since entering the league in 2003 as a field judge. He was promoted to referee in 2006.
Steratore, 55, co-owns Steratore Sanitary Supply, a janitorial supply company, with his brother, Tony, who was the back judge for the AFC championship game this year. Tony Steratore is a McMurray resident and has officiated two Super Bowls.
He became the fourth referee to retire from the league this offseason, joining Ed Hochuli, Jeff Triplette and Terry McAulay.
Steratore is also a Division I college basketball official with the Big Ten as his primary conference.