He probably shouldn’t expect the traditional gold watch as a warm retirement gift from any Pittsburghers.
Al Riveron on Thursday retired from the position of the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, ending a career in football officiating that lasted more than four decades and included a 17-year tenure in the pros. But while Riveron generally was admired by his peers and in NFL offices, his work over the past four years was often second-guessed by fans.
The senior vice president of officiating is tasked with the final say on instant-replay reviews. And few since he took the job in 2017 were more high-profile in regular-season play than when Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James had a touchdown overturned late during a game against the New England Patriots in December 2017 at Heinz Field.
Though James’ 10-yard catch with 28 seconds to play was initially ruled a touchdown that would have given the Steelers a 30-27 lead, Riveron and his crew in New York ruled that James did not have complete control of the ball while hitting the ground and lunging into the end zone.
The video is an explanation from @NFL SVP of Officiating Al Riveron on the reversal at the end of the #NEvsPIT game. pic.twitter.com/hm5EeoZTER
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 18, 2017
That conclusion was disputed by many – especially in Pittsburgh.
It cost the Steelers more than a win; it dropped them to the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs that year, meaning a tougher draw in the divisional round – where they lost at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots went to the Super Bowl. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since.
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