After working for the National Football League since the early 90s, referees Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette are saying goodbye to the football field and hello to retirement. The NFL Senior Vice President of officiating, Alberto Riveron, announced this week that the two have retired. He also revealed that there would be two new referees to take their place, former BJ Shawn Hochuli and former SJ Alex Kemp.

According to NFL.com, both Hochuli and Triplette have refereed many games and found success as being two of the most well known referees in the NFL.

Throughout their many years in the league, the two referees have gain the respect of not only their peers, but also players and coaches around the league. With such admiration for the two it is going to be hard for newcomers to fill those shoes.

Saying goodbye to the league

Working for the NFL as an official since 1990, Hochuli made his debut during a preseason game in Green Bay as a back judge. It only took him two years to become a referee and he was given the opportunity to officiate two Super Bowls.

In 1998, he officiated Super Bowl XXXII between the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. He also officiated Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 between the Oakland Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is also known by the public because of his physical appearance and tight shirts.

Triplette joined the NFL as an official in 1996 as a field judge and then switched to back judge before being promoted to a referee in 1999.

Unlike Huchuli, Triplette was only an alternate referee for Super Bowl XLI in 2007 between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. After drawing a lot of criticism for the officiating during a wild card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans, rumors sparked that he would retire. However, the rumors ended up being true, as his retirement was confirmed on March 6.

Welcoming two new members

With the exit of two referees, the NFL welcomes in two new members to the family. Joining the family is an official that has a tie with the NFL. Ed Hochuli's son, Shawn Hochuli, was promoted from being an official to a referee, as reported on CNN. Hochuli's son is a former back judge and will be replacing him in the upcoming season.

Also promoted from an official to referee and joining the team in the upcoming season is former side judge Alex Kemp. He has been in the league since 2014, when he started as a field judge for one year. After switching from a field judge, Kemp became a side judge for three years.

With so many changes being made to the game and new rules being implemented it is now harder than ever to be a referee. It will be interesting to see how the new referees adjust moving forward.
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