The football world is in mourning today after the shocking news that an official had suddenly passed away.
Wayne Mackie, a longtime NFL game official and member of the NFL Officiating staff, lost his life at the tender age of 62 after being found deceased on Thursday night.
“Tragic news: Wayne Mackie, a longtime NFL game official and member of the NFL Officiating staff, died suddenly last night at age 62.
Known as one of the kindest, nicest, most genuine men in football, Mackie was among the NFL’s best and served as head linesman for Super Bowl 50.”
Mackie grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His officiating career began when he was playing basketball at the famous West 4th Street tournament in New York City. He was asked by a longtime basketball official to try it out and it ended up turning into a career.
“I first dabbled with refereeing intramural basketball games in college just to make a little extra cash, but I had no intention of doing anything with officiating after I graduated,” Mackie said.
He officiated in the MEAC from 1997-2000 and in the Atlantic 10 Conference from 2000-2001. Then he joined the Big East Conference from 2002-2006 and officiated in the Arena League from 2002-2006. He was in NFL Europe from 2003-2005, before entering the NFL in 2007.
WANT MORE FROM TOTALPROSPORTS? FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS.