Veteran NFL Official Dies After Working Game on Sunday

Carl Madsen, who had worked for the NFL as an official for more than 20 years, died on Sunday.

According to NFL.com, Madsen died on his way home from Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, where he was working as a replay official.

While details are pretty scarce on Madsen’s death, the Nashville Police Department told TMZ that early signs indicate Madsen suffered “a medical emergency” while driving on I-65 North.

Really sad news. His last officiating act was getting this play correctly overturned. RIP, Carl Madsen. pic.twitter.com/ppS11m3gG2 https://t.co/FeGO0SZMa4

— No Context Tennessee Titans (@NoContextTitans) October 26, 2021

From NFL.com:

“Carl Madsen was an NFL officiating fixture for more than two decades, first as a highly respected on-field official before transitioning to a replay role beginning in 2009,” NFL senior VP of officiating training and development Walt Anderson said in a statement. “A terrific friend and colleague, Carl’s love of football and dedication to officiating was ever-present, as he generously shared his time to mentor young officials at clinics across the country. A veteran of the Air Force, Carl had a tremendous spirit and will be greatly missed.”

NFL Referees Association president Scott Green also released a statement to Pro Football Talk:

“Carl will be missed by those who worked with him on the field and in replay,” Green said. “He had a nickname among his fellow officials of “Big Country” which was not only related to his size but to his big personality as a warm and generous man.”

Carl Madsen, an Air Force veteran who spent more than two decades as an on and off-field NFL official, passed away Sunday at the age of 71. https://t.co/tjWtOxG2Sj

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 25, 2021

Carl Madsen was 71 years old.

R.I.P.

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