Jerome Boger

Jerome Boger (pronounced BOH-ger) (born c. 1955) is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2004 NFL season. He wears uniform number 23 since 2006; before that, he wore uniform number 109. He started in the league as a line judge and was promoted to referee in 2006 after two seasons. Along with Gene Steratore, he is one of two new referees for 2006, replacing retired officials Bernie Kukar and Tom White. Boger became the third African-American referee in the NFL after Johnny Grier (1988), who previously wore uniform number 23, and Mike Carey (1995).

Personal
Boger played quarterback at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and was a four year starter. Realizing that he did not have the football skills to make it on a professional level, he decided to get into officiating, allowing him to stay close to the game. He started working high school and recreational league games before moving up to small colleges. He spent 11 years in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and five seasons in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference from 1996 to 2000.

Boger has a son, Tra Boger, that plays defensive back in the Canadian Football League.

Boger resides in Conyers, Georgia. Outside of officiating, he is an underwriter for Allstate Insurance in Atlanta.

Officiating career
Boger has also served as a referee in Conference USA, Arena Football League, and NFL Europe (where he officiated in World Bowl XIV).

Boger served as referee for a game between the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys during the 2006 NFL Season. In the 3rd quarter of the game, Titans defensive linemean Albert Haynesworth was ejected for stomping on the head of Cowboys offensive lineman Andre Gurode. Haynesworth received a 5-game suspension as a result of the incident, the longest suspension for an on-field incident in NFL history.

Boger also served as referee in 2006 in a Monday Night game where the Chicago Bears defeated the Arizona Cardinals in one of the greatest comebacks in league history.

Boger's 2011 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Carl Paganelli, head linesman Jerry Bergman, line judge Tom Stephan, field judge Doug Rosenbaum, side judge Joe Larrew and back judge Tony Steratore.