Referee Clay Martin and his officiating crew have been designated to oversee the Week 1 regular-season opener between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders, set to take place on September 10, 2024. This marks Martin’s eighth season as a referee in the National Football League (NFL), where he has developed a reputation for consistency and fairness on the field.
Details of the Officiating Crew
Martin’s crew for this season mainly retains its structure from 2023, featuring down judge Jerod Phillips, line judge Brian Perry, field judge Dave Hawkshaw, side judge Alonzo Ramsey, back judge Greg Wilson, and replay official Bryant Thompson. Two new members have been added: umpire Steve Woods, who joins from Craig Wrolstadt‘s crew, and replay assistant Artenzia Young-Seigler, previously with Brad Rogers‘ crew. This blend of returning officials and new talent aims to bring a fresh perspective to the officiating process.
In the previous season, Martin’s crew flagged a total of 215 penalties, resulting in 1,766 yards. Notably, they officiated only one game involving the Giants, a Week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, during which they issued 15 penalties for a combined 124 yards. The breakdown of those penalties included four against the Giants and 11 against the Cowboys, reflecting a challenging game for the New York team.
Martin’s Journey in the NFL
At 50 years old, Martin first joined the NFL in 2015 as an umpire, advancing to referee in 2018. His promotion came in response to the retirements of seasoned officials Terry McAulay and Gene Steratore. Over the years, he has gained respect within the league, even earning assignments for high-stakes games, including the AFC Divisional Playoff round between the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.
Despite his experience, Martin’s crew did not officiate any regular-season games involving the Commanders last year. As he prepares for the upcoming season, fans and players alike will be watching closely to see how his crew handles the intense atmosphere of the Giants-Commanders rivalry.
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