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.

— 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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