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Edward G. Hochuli[1] (/ˈhɒkjʊli/ HOCK-yuu-lee; born December 25, 1950)[2] is an American retired attorney and former American football official. He served as an attorney at Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. from 1983 to 2021, and was an official in the National Football League (NFL) from 1990 to 2017; his uniform number was 85. Before becoming a football official, he played college football for four seasons at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Key Information

Hochuli worked numerous playoff games including two Super Bowls. He is best known for his athletic/muscular physique[3] (height: 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m); weight: 230 pounds (100 kg)[4]), and for explaining on-field rulings in a manner that is comprehensive yet also clear and concise.[5] In a poll conducted by ESPN in 2008, Hochuli tied fellow referee Mike Carey for "best referee" votes (eight each) among NFL head coaches.[6] In his 28th season in the league and 26th as a referee (crew chief) with the 2017 NFL season, Hochuli's officiating crew consisted of umpire Shawn Smith, down judge Greg Bradley, line judge Rusty Baynes, field judge Dale Shaw, side judge Alex Kemp, and back judge Scott Helverson.[7]

After the retirements of Gerald Austin and Larry Nemmers following the 2007 season, Hochuli became the NFL's longest-tenured referee for the next decade. He announced his own retirement in March 2018.[8] In 2019, his son Shawn Hochuli—previously a referee in the Arena Football League and a back judge in the NFL—was promoted to referee.

Personal life

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Early life

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Hochuli was born on December 25, 1950, in Milwaukee living there until age eight before his family moved to Tucson, Arizona.[9] He was the second child of six.[10] He went to Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, Arizona, graduating in 1969.[11][12] During his high school years, he participated in football (earning all-state honors twice), basketball, wrestling, and track.[11] He attributes his competitive nature to having an older brother, Chip Hochuli.[10] Ed Hochuli told Referee in a 2004 interview, "I was somebody who wanted to be good and I wanted my brother to be proud of me, and I wanted my parents to be proud of me."[10] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1972.[1] While studying at UTEP, Hochuli played linebacker on the school's football team from 1969 to 1972.[3] As a football player he earned All-Western Athletic Conference academic honors in 1972.[11] His father, Walter Hochuli, was involved with law as a wills and estate planner, which influenced Ed Hochuli to pursue a career in law.[9] He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona Law School in 1976.[1] While in law school, Hochuli served as a law clerk for two years under United States District Judge Carl Muecke.[9] After completing his education Hochuli was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona.[1]

Family

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Hochuli resides in the Phoenix metropolitan area.[11] He has six children and 10 grandchildren.[2] Shawn Hochuli is one of his sons and played college football at Pitzer College.[13] Shawn joined his father's profession as an official, working as a side judge in his first NFL season in 2014.[14] Shawn Hochuli also worked in Arena Football League[15] and arenafootball2 games.[16] On August 13, 2011, a day after his father refereed a preseason game between the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, Shawn was the head referee for ArenaBowl XXIV between the Jacksonville Sharks and Arizona Rattlers. Scott Hochuli, another of Ed Hochuli's sons, owns Hochuli Design & Remodeling Team which is a company in the Phoenix area that specializes in residential design and construction.[17] He is married to Lorrie Hochuli and they have two daughters: Devan and Ryann. Ed Hochuli's brother, Daniel Hochuli, is the town attorney for Sahuarita, Arizona, and his brother Peter is a judge at the Pima County Juvenile Court in Tucson.[18]

Attorney

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Hochuli was a trial lawyer[19] and a partner in the Arizona law firm of Jones, Skelton and Hochuli, P.L.C., having been a part of the firm since it was founded in 1983 to his retirement.[1] The firm began with five partners and seven associates and has expanded to over 80 attorneys.[9] He specializes in civil litigation in the areas of bad faith and extra-contractual liability, complex litigation, insurance coverage and fraud, legal malpractice and professional liability, product liability defense, trucking and transportation industry defense, and wrongful death and personal injury defense.[1] He claims to be involved in 200 cases at any time.[9] Hochuli finds interest in trying cases, calling it an "adrenaline rush" adding, "You love that challenge–the competition, if you will–of it. It's a game. It's obviously a very important game to people, and I don't mean to diminish the importance of it... You have to follow these rules, and there's a win-or-lose outcome. You're on a stage."[20]

He is admitted to practice in Arizona state and federal courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[1] His recognition as an attorney includes being named Best Lawyers in America since 2003 and Southwest Super Lawyers in 2007.[1] Super Lawyers includes only the top five percent of lawyers in a state based on point totals, as chosen by peers and through independent research by Law & Politics.[21]

Comparing his law and officiating professions, he says "A trial is nothing, pressure-wise, compared to the NFL… I have that long [snaps his fingers] to make a decision with a million people watching and second-guessing (by video) in slow-motion. You've got to be right or wrong. I love the satisfaction when you are right — and the agony when you are wrong."[22] He finds similarities between the football field and courtroom saying, "On the football field, people like that I'm in charge and know what I'm doing, but a lot of the time, it's just appearance. I'm going to sell you on my decision. It's the same in the courtroom. You don't stand in front of a jury and say, 'I think my client is innocent.' You say, 'We're right!'"[9]

Officiating career

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Early years

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Hochuli began officiating Pop Warner football games as a law student to earn additional income,[12] which was suggested by one of his former high school coaches[10] as "a way to stay in touch with the game".[9] His interest in officiating carried over into baseball where he was a Little League Baseball umpire from 1970 to 1973.[11] Progressing to the high school level in 1973, he focused on football, and officiated games in the Tucson area until 1985.[11] In addition to high school officiating, he worked college football games for the Big Sky Conference and Pacific-10 Conference as a line judge during the 1980s.[11]

NFL career

[edit]

Hochuli was hired by the NFL in 1990 as a back judge[12] after applying to the league before the 1989 NFL season.[10] His first game in the league was on August 11, 1990, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[2] During his first two years in the league, he was assigned to the officiating crew headed by referee Howard Roe.[23] To gain additional experience as a back judge and eventually a referee, Hochuli participated in the NFL's partnership with the World League of American Football (WLAF), a spring developmental league, in 1991 and 1992.[11] Using his experience in the WLAF, as well as the organization, precision, and analytical skills he learned while working under Roe's guidance, Hochuli desired to become a crew chief in the NFL.[10] He was promoted to referee in 1992[12] when longtime referee Stan Kemp was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and forced to retire.[10] Hochuli had worked a pre-season game that year in Tokyo, Japan, as a back judge when he received a telephone call following the game from then-Senior Director of Officiating, Jerry Seeman.[10] Seeman asked Hochuli to work as referee for the first time when the Denver Broncos hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game.[2][10]

Since becoming a referee, Hochuli headed the officiating crews for Super Bowl XXXII[24] and Super Bowl XXXVIII,[25] and he was selected as an alternate for Super Bowl XXXI,[26] Super Bowl XXXVII,[24] and Super Bowl XXXIX.[27] In addition to working two Super Bowls, he has officiated five conference championship games as of the start of the 2007 NFL season.[28] Every officiating game performance is graded by the league each week.[29] These grades determine which officials are assigned playoff games, as well as the Super Bowl.[29] Hochuli credits his mentor, Jerry Markbreit, a four-time Super Bowl referee, as the greatest influence on his career.[30]

In his second year as referee, he worked the 1993 Thanksgiving Day game between the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in Irving, Texas.[10] During the final moments of the game, Miami placekicker Pete Stoyanovich had a field goal attempt blocked.[10] The Cowboys' Leon Lett inadvertently touched the loose ball before the Dolphins' Jeff Dellenbach pounced on it.[10] At the time, Hochuli had "no idea" what happened during the play and had to confer with three other officials to piece together the sequence of events.[2] With the information gathered from the officials, he ruled that Miami retained possession of the football.[2] Stoyanovich booted the ensuing winning field goal for the Miami win.

Hochuli was a referee for the 1999 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars; it was the final game for quarterback Dan Marino and coach Jimmy Johnson as the Jaguars won 62–7.

Hochuli was a referee in the 2003 Divisional Playoff game between the Packers and the Eagles.

On October 2, 2005, he officiated the first regular-season NFL game played outside the United States when the Arizona Cardinals played the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City, Mexico[31] as part of the league's "Fútbol Americano" marketing campaign. On the first penalty announcement of the game, Hochuli gave the explanation in Spanish to pay respect to the host city and country.[31] His son, Shawn Hochuli made a similar move in 2024 when officiating a game between the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants in Munich, Germany, where he announced the first penalty of the game in German.[32]

Jeff Bergman joined Hochuli for the wild card bout between the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets on January 8, 2005.[33]

Hochuli officiated the first regular season game at University of Phoenix Stadium on September 10, 2006, when the Cardinals hosted the 49ers.

He was the referee for the game between the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, played December 17, 2006, that included Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre becoming the all-time leader for pass completions among quarterbacks in the NFL.[34] Favre was unaware that his 4,968 pass completions were a record until he was informed during the game by Hochuli.[34] Hochuli was the referee again for another Favre record-breaking moment when Favre threw his 421st touchdown pass of his career on September 30, 2007, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to break the record previously held by Dan Marino. He also reffed the Week 17 game in 2008 in which the Lions became the first of two NFL teams so far to go 0–16 in a season, with the other being the 2017 Browns.[35][36]

One of Hochuli's notable explanations came during a 2007 regular season game between the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots. While nullifying a holding infraction, he announced through his microphone, "There was no foul on the play. It was not a hold. The defender was just overpowered."[22]

On September 14, 2008, Hochuli officiated a game between the San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos.[37] He made an incorrect call with 1:17 left in the game, while Denver was in possession of the ball at the San Diego one-yard line and they were trailing the Chargers by seven points. On a second-down play, Denver quarterback Jay Cutler fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by San Diego linebacker Tim Dobbins. Ed Hochuli blew his whistle during the play, signaling that the play was dead and ruling an incomplete pass. Hochuli later wrote, "Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection – I failed miserably."[38] The NFL passed a rule the following offseason allowing such plays to be reviewable under the instant replay rule for the 2009 NFL season.[39] Speaking to Referee in November 2009, Hochuli told the magazine, "It was really an easy play. I’ve thought many times why I did what I did. The best explanation is it was almost like dyslexia. I realized it was a fumble and did the wrong thing. I realized I was wrong but there was nothing I could do about it."[40]

2001 officials' strike

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Hochuli has served as the head of the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA), the union which represents NFL game officials.[41] The union was responsible for negotiating a new contract for the officials prior to the 2001 NFL season.[42] At the time, salaries ranged from a first-year official earning US$1,431 a game to a veteran official with twenty years of experience making $4,330 a game.[43] Officials were looking for a 400 percent increase in salary while the league was offering just 40 percent.[44] During the negotiations Hochuli believed the issue in finding a resolution was to convince the league that officials are full-time employees.[42]

At the start of the season, officials had rejected a league offer of a 60 percent immediate increase in salary, followed by an 85 percent salary increase in 2002, and a 100 percent increase in 2003.[45] For the first time in league history, replacement officials were used during the regular season.[45] Hochuli had distributed an e-mail to 1,200 potential replacement officials warning them that "Working as a scab will actually hurt and likely kill any chances you would have of ever getting into the NFL."[46] He later regretted sending the letter to college football officials across the United States.[10] The stalemate between the union and the league ended on September 19, 2001, when officials agreed to a six-year deal from the league with an immediate increase in salary of 50 percent with a raise each year.[47] Officials had been locked out since the final week of pre-season games that year and returned to work on September 23, 2001, when the league resumed games following the September 11, 2001 attacks.[47]

Celebrity

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Hochuli's presence on the football field created a cult following.[22] His rise in popularity is believed to have been started by Phil Simms, a former NFL quarterback and then color commentator for the NFL on CBS, who made reference to the size of Hochuli's arms during a telecast.[48] There are internet websites that sell Hochuli merchandise as well as blogs with his namesake.[22] He is often affectionately referred to as "Hochules", a portmanteau of his last name and "Hercules", in homage to his large biceps. While he is aware of his celebrity status, Hochuli does not understand it. He said in a USA Today interview, "I get a kick out of the notoriety, because I'm just a referee. I'm not the players. The players are the game. They're what this is all about. I get notoriety because I explain things, and I get notoriety because I have a decent physique, which is funny because I'm a shrimp, a peewee compared to those players. Neither one of those things has anything to do with whether I'm a good referee."[22]

His recognition extends to the streets, in airports, and in the courtroom.[12] He has been approached by notable athletes such as former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Charles Barkley at the airport.[49] "It never ceases to amaze me," Hochuli told the Arizona Daily Star. "The number of people that will just come up to me and recognize me."[12] He appreciates the attention, saying, "I enjoy the fact that there are people who like me as a referee. I hear from a lot of people and I enjoy that. Like anybody, I like praise. Probably because of my personality, I thrive on that more than other people."[10]

Hochuli's career as an NFL official has been chronicled on the NFL Network's Six Days to Sunday in 2005.[50] The half-hour television program detailed the game preparations that Hochuli went through from Monday to Saturday during the season. The preparation work includes fifteen hours of video tape game review, a "couple hours" completing administrative tasks for the NFL, reading the rulebook, taking a weekly written exam on rules, and communicating with league supervisors.[41]

Hochuli's celebrity status off the field includes being mentioned on the "Top Ten List" during the edition of January 29, 2002 of the Late Show with David Letterman.[51] His likeness appears in the Madden NFL video game franchise[52] beginning with Madden NFL 06.[53] He appeared on the cover of the October 8, 2012 issue of Sports Illustrated. In 2015, he became the subject of "Fallacy Ref", a series of Internet memes about logical fallacies.[54]

References

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Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ed Hochuli

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Edward G. Hochuli (born December 25, 1950) is a retired American attorney and former (NFL) official renowned for his muscular physique, articulate explanations of rulings during games, and long-standing dual career in law and sports officiating. Hochuli earned a degree with honors from the University of at El Paso in 1972, where he played and received All-Western Athletic Conference academic honors, followed by a with distinction from the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law in 1976. He began his legal career as a attorney, founding the Phoenix-based firm Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C. in 1983, where he served as a partner for over 30 years before retiring; over his tenure, he tried more than 150 civil jury trials, specializing in areas such as liability, retail and transportation defense, and general liability. Concurrently, Hochuli entered NFL officiating in 1990 as a back judge, advancing to and crew chief by 1992, while balancing the demands of his legal practice with extensive travel for games. During his 28-season tenure, which concluded with his retirement in 2018, Hochuli officiated numerous high-profile contests, including Super Bowls XXXII in 1998 and XXXVIII in 2004, as well as the 2002 . He garnered a among fans for his chiseled 6-foot-2-inch frame—maintained through rigorous —and his clear, comprehensive post-play announcements, which often went viral and elevated his celebrity status among referees. As president of the Referees Association, Hochuli played a pivotal role in negotiating the 2001 agreement, which expanded officiating crews and improved compensation, though he later reflected on the challenges of work-life balance amid his dual professions and personal life, including two divorces. Hochuli's post-retirement contributions include receiving the 2024 Art McNally Award and the 2024 Michael A. O'Hagan-Carr Award, as well as leveraging his experiences in legal and officiating seminars on topics like , , and , underscoring his enduring influence on both fields.

Early life and education

Childhood and upbringing

Ed Hochuli was born on December 25, 1950, in , . He was the second of six children in his family. His father, Walter Hochuli, worked as a wills and estate planner, providing an early environment influenced by legal matters. At the age of eight, Hochuli's family relocated from to , where he spent the remainder of his childhood. This move immersed him in the Southwest's growing sports culture, particularly football, as he participated in youth leagues that fostered his competitive drive. Hochuli attended Canyon del Oro High School in the Tucson suburb of Oro Valley, graduating in 1969. There, he developed a passion for athletics, playing football as a halfback and linebacker while competing against his older brother Chip, the team's , which heightened his determination in a family of active siblings. In addition to football, he played , wrestled, and ran track. His high school experiences, including standout performances like scoring a game-winning as a junior , introduced him to the discipline and physicality of organized football amid Tucson's vibrant local sports scene. Hochuli attended the University of at El Paso (UTEP), where he played as a linebacker on the Miners football team from 1969 to 1972. During his time on the team, he contributed to the program's efforts in the , though his statistical output was limited, reflecting a focus on defensive play. In addition to his athletic involvement, Hochuli excelled academically at UTEP, earning All-Western Athletic Conference academic honors. He graduated in 1972 with a degree with honors. Following his undergraduate studies, Hochuli enrolled at the James E. Rogers College of Law, earning his with distinction in 1976. To support himself financially during , he began officiating youth football games on a part-time basis, an experience that kept him connected to the sport. Upon graduation, Hochuli was admitted to the State Bar of in 1976. He then served a two-year clerkship under United States District Judge Carl A. Muecke in the U.S. District Court for the District of , gaining early practical experience in federal litigation.

Entry into law and firm partnership

Following his graduation with a from the in 1976, Ed Hochuli was admitted to the State Bar of that same year. He then served as a for two years under U.S. District Judge Carl Muecke, gaining foundational experience in federal court proceedings before entering private practice. Hochuli began his legal practice focusing on civil litigation, with an emphasis on defense work in and cases for major corporate clients. In 1983, he co-founded the Phoenix-based firm Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., becoming a named partner in what grew into Arizona's largest trial , initially comprising five partners dedicated to litigation services. Throughout his early career, Hochuli balanced his demanding legal work with local football officiating, starting with high school games in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a pursuit that sharpened his analytical and composure under pressure—skills he later credited with enhancing his courtroom advocacy by reducing nervousness during trials.

Practice highlights and retirement

Throughout his career, Ed Hochuli specialized in defending large corporations in complex civil litigation, focusing on areas such as , extra-contractual liability, general liability, retail defense, transportation defense, and /social host liability. As a attorney, he personally tried more than 150 civil trials to , often representing clients in high-stakes matters during the 1990s through the 2010s, including suits and claims against businesses. Representative examples of his courtroom successes include securing a defense that saved a client $3.75 million in a worksite injury case and obtaining a court remission of a , reducing from $675,000 to $250,000 in a dispute. As a founding partner of Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., established in 1983, Hochuli took on key leadership roles, including serving as chair of the USLAW Network from 2012 to 2013 and as a board member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association from 2001 to 2010; he received the USLAW O'Hagan-Carr Award in 2024 for his leadership and contributions. Under his involvement, the firm expanded significantly, growing from 12 attorneys in 1983 to more than 120 attorneys as of 2025, becoming Arizona's largest trial law firm. Hochuli transitioned to status at the firm by 2019 after over 40 years of active practice, fully retiring from legal practice around 2021, where he maintains advisory roles while supporting ongoing litigation efforts. Hochuli has noted that his dual careers mutually reinforced skills of precision and decisiveness; the rigorous preparation required in complex trials enhanced his ability to interpret and explain rules clearly during games, while the high-pressure judgments of officiating informed his poise and quick thinking under scrutiny.

Officiating career

Early officiating roles

While attending in the early 1970s, Ed Hochuli began officiating youth football games to supplement his income, a suggestion from one of his former high school coaches that quickly hooked him on the role's challenges and connection to the sport. This entry point allowed him to stay involved in football amid financial pressures from his studies. Hochuli progressed steadily through the ranks, starting high school games in Tucson in 1973 and continuing until 1985, while also working contests from 1980 to 1988. By 1980, he had advanced to college-level officiating as a line judge in the , serving until 1985, and joined the Pac-10 (formerly Pac-8) in 1983, where he officiated through 1989. These roles honed his understanding of rules and game flow at increasingly competitive levels, building a reputation for precision. During his college officiating tenure, Hochuli developed his signature referee signals, practicing them meticulously in front of a mirror each season to ensure clarity and emphasis, an approach enhanced by his rigorous fitness regimen of that maintained his muscular physique for more visible, deliberate gestures. He also prioritized clear communication through enunciated explanations, analyzing game tape for 15 hours weekly to refine his delivery. In 1989, Hochuli applied to the , undergoing the league's rigorous selection process including background checks and evaluations before being hired as a back judge for the 1990 season. This marked the culmination of his foundational experience in amateur and collegiate ranks. During his first two seasons as back judge, he also officiated in the World League of American Football, serving as back judge in 1991 and in 1992.

NFL service and key events

Ed Hochuli began his NFL officiating career in 1990 when he was hired as a back judge, a position now known as field judge. He was promoted to in 1992 following the retirement of longtime referee Stan Kemp due to (ALS), becoming the crew chief for what would be 26 seasons through the . Throughout his tenure, Hochuli wore uniform number 85 consistently. Hochuli earned a reputation for precise and authoritative calls, particularly in high-stakes postseason games, where he officiated numerous playoff contests including two Super Bowls. He served as for in 1998, between the and , and in 2004, featuring the and . His detailed explanations of rulings during games further solidified his standing as one of the league's most respected officials. In 2001, Hochuli played a key role in the NFL officials' lockout as president of the Referees Association (NFLRA), leading negotiations amid a contract dispute that saw regular officials sidelined for the preseason and the first week of the . Replacement officials handled those early games, but a settlement was reached shortly after, allowing Hochuli and the full NFLRA members to return to their full-time roles for the remainder of the season. Hochuli's career was not without controversy, including a notable incident in the 2008 game between the and , often likened to the "tuck rule" due to its interpretation of a forward pass motion. With the Broncos facing third-and-18 late in the fourth quarter and trailing by three points, quarterback appeared to fumble the ball after his arm tucked, but Hochuli ruled it an incomplete pass and blew his whistle, deadening the play under NFL rules that prevent recovery of a fumbled ball once an official signals incompletion. Replay confirmed the fumble but upheld the spot at the line of scrimmage due to the whistle, allowing Denver to retain possession, score a touchdown, and win 39-38; Hochuli later acknowledged the error to Chargers coach and issued a public apology, leading to a league grading downgrade for his crew. Another significant controversy occurred during a 2017 Detroit Lions game against the , where Hochuli's crew initially ruled a fourth-quarter play an followed by a personal foul penalty, but upon review, reversed it to a fumble with no foul after determining the ball had crossed the . This ruling adhered to guidelines requiring clear evidence to overturn on-field decisions regarding fumble versus incompletion, though it drew criticism for the multiple announcements and perceived delay in resolution. Such incidents highlighted the challenges of instant replay in interpreting complex rules like forward progress and ball control.

Retirement from officiating

Ed Hochuli announced his retirement from officiating on March 6, 2018, at age 67, concluding a 28-season tenure that began in 1990 as a back judge and transitioned to in 1992. The decision came after months of rumors within league circles, marking the end of one of the longest careers among active officials at the time. His final game was the NFC Wild Card playoff contest on January 6, 2018, where the defeated the 26–13 at the . Over his career, Hochuli officiated 447 regular-season games and 27 postseason contests, including Super Bowls XXXII and XXXVIII, establishing him as one of the league's most experienced referees. In the immediate aftermath, Hochuli supported the transition for new officials by serving as an independent consultant to the NFL's officiating department, a role that involved mentoring and advising on rules interpretation and crew dynamics. This included guidance for his son, , who was promoted from back judge to referee for the 2018 season, directly replacing his father and continuing the family legacy in the league. In 2024, Hochuli received the , recognizing his professionalism, leadership, and commitment to sportsmanship in officiating. Post-retirement, Hochuli reflected on the intense physical and mental toll of maintaining peak fitness for on-field demands while managing a full-time legal practice, emphasizing the discipline required to juggle both high-stakes professions over nearly three decades.

Personal life

Family and marriages

Ed Hochuli has been twice. His first marriage ended in , producing five children. Hochuli married his wife, Cathie, in 2009. Hochuli is the father of six children in total, three sons and three daughters, including , who followed in his father's footsteps as an official and was promoted to in 2018 upon Ed's retirement. Hochuli has ten grandchildren as of 2020. His family played a crucial role in supporting his demanding dual careers, with his children and wife managing household responsibilities during frequent travel for games and legal work, while sharing a passion for sports that strengthened their bonds.

Fitness and bodybuilding pursuits

Hochuli began during his high school years and continued the practice through his college athletics at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he played football. He later competed as a powerlifter and entered contests, achieving notable success by winning the Mr. bodybuilding competition. Throughout his NFL officiating career, Hochuli maintained a rigorous daily workout regimen, training five to six days per week with at least one hour of cardiovascular exercise each day and weightlifting sessions four days a week. This discipline contributed to his muscular physique, which was evident in the defined muscle contours visible beneath his referee uniform during games. His fitness emphasis on strength and endurance directly supported the physical demands of officiating, enabling sustained performance over long matches. Hochuli adhered to a high-protein, low-fat diet consisting of six to eight small meals daily, featuring foods such as instant oatmeal for breakfast, bananas as mid-morning snacks, chicken breast with rice for lunch, salmon or steak with vegetables for dinner, and whey protein shakes providing 40 grams of protein almost daily. Following his retirement from NFL officiating in 2018, he continued this routine as a personal hobby, with four weekly two-hour strength training sessions targeting specific muscle groups—chest on Mondays, shoulders on Wednesdays, back on Thursdays, and arms on Saturdays—alongside daily aerobic work on a stair machine or treadmill.

Legacy and recognition

Public persona and celebrity status

Ed Hochuli rose to prominence as a fan favorite in the during the , largely due to his distinctive muscular physique and theatrical on-field signals that accentuated his athletic build. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing around 230 pounds, Hochuli's sculpted arms and form-fitting uniform became iconic, often drawing comparisons to a bodybuilder rather than a typical official; players even requested to compare bicep sizes with him before games. His dramatic gestures, such as exaggerated arm extensions when signaling penalties like holding, highlighted his fitness and turned routine calls into memorable spectacles, contributing to his status as the league's "rock star" . This unique persona spawned a , complete with nicknames like "Hochules" and "Guns," reflecting his Herculean appearance, and inspired memes centered on his bicep-flexing signals during penalty announcements. Fans created dedicated accounts, such as the Twitter handle @HochulisGuns, and viral videos like "I Want to Be Ed Hochuli," which humorously celebrated his style and explanations. further amplified his celebrity by producing tribute segments upon his retirement, portraying him as a larger-than-life figure in league lore. His articulate, lawyerly breakdowns of rules—often lengthy and precise—were featured in media interviews, where he emphasized clarity for announcers and viewers, stemming from a pivotal 1993 game that shaped his communicative approach. In the , Hochuli's cultural impact peaked amid the 2012 referee lockout, when fans clamored for his return as a symbol of experienced, entertaining officiating, with his name trending on despite his absence from negotiations. Upon announcing his retirement after the 2017 season, supporters expressed widespread dismay through tributes and humorous reactions, lamenting the loss of his charismatic presence; while no formal emerged, the outpouring underscored his enduring appeal as a bridge between the game's rules and its entertainment value.

Awards, honors, and family influence

In 2024, Ed Hochuli received the Award from the , recognizing his exceptional professionalism, leadership, and commitment to throughout his officiating career. This honor, named after the NFL's first coordinator of officials, underscores Hochuli's role in elevating the standards of football officiating. Later that year, he was awarded the O'Hagan-Carr Award by the USLAW Network, honoring his outstanding legal service, community involvement, and dedication to the organization's mission as a past chair and founding partner at Jones, Skelton & Hochuli. Hochuli's contributions have positioned him as a strong candidate for induction into the in the contributor category, with ongoing advocacy highlighting his impact on the professionalism and integrity of officiating. His influence extends to modern standards, where he has advocated for rigorous , including organizing and funding boot camps during labor disputes to maintain officiating proficiency and supported workshops that emphasize precision and respect in the role. Hochuli's legacy continues through his family, particularly his sons who have pursued paths in and beyond sports. , his son, became an referee in 2018 after serving as a back judge and line , notably officiating the 2025 between the and . Another son, Jeff Hochuli, has built a career in medical aesthetics sales and management, currently serving as a strategic director at Merz Aesthetics after roles in orthopedic sales. Hochuli has six children in total, with his brothers Daniel, the town attorney for , and Peter, a at the Pima County in Tucson, also following trajectories in the legal field, reflecting the family's emphasis on professional service outside athletics.

References

  1. https://www.nfl.com/photos/ed-hochuli-through-the-years-0ap3000000919903
  2. https://www.football-refs.com/retired-nfl-referees/ed-hochuli/
  3. https://www.jshfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Hochuli-Edward-BIO.pdf
  4. https://www.jshfirm.com/professionals/ehochuli/
  5. https://www.referee.com/ed-hochuli-balance/
  6. https://www.footballzebras.com/2024/07/ed-hochuli-receives-the-2024-art-mcnally-award/
  7. https://www.uslaw.org/news/uslaw-names-ed-hochuli-the-2024-ohagan-carr-award-recipient/
  8. https://www.footballzebras.com/2020/12/happy-birthday-ed-hochuli/
  9. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/lawyers/ed-hochuli-net-worth/
  10. https://www.celebritynetworth.com/articles/sports-news/theres-more-to-ed-hochuli-than-just-football/
  11. https://pcshf.org/ed-hochuli/
  12. https://kids.kiddle.co/Ed_Hochuli
  13. https://tucson.com/sports/highschool/collection_9bb1c29e-6f52-11e8-b258-6ba2b220d802.html
  14. https://kfoxtv.com/sports/local-sports/popular-nfl-referee-and-utep-alum-ed-hochuli-announces-retirement
  15. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ed-hochuli-1.html
  16. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/sports/football/ed-hochuli-nfl-referee-has-long-had-fan-support.html
  17. https://www.superlawyers.com/articles/arizona/zebra-lawyer/
  18. https://www.jshfirm.com/about/
  19. https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--nothing--part-time--about-ed-hochuli-s-approach-to-game-as-nfl-s-most-famous-referee.html
  20. https://www.jshfirm.com/court-remits-jury-verdict-700000-250000-soto-v-sacco/
  21. https://www.uslaw.org/news/uslaw-network-board-chairs-2001-to-present/
  22. https://www.jshfirm.com/
  23. https://www.espn.co.uk/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/133557/ed-hochuli-explains-his-explanations
  24. https://refrsports.com/blog/ed-hochuli-nfl-refereeing-icon-lawyers-precision
  25. https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2018/09/14/without-ed-hochuli-who-is-the-most-recognizable-nfl-lawyer-referee/
  26. http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=090507/hochuli
  27. https://tucson.com/sports/article_aa0cb03f-8faf-5c41-befe-e6e847695cc4.html
  28. https://www.azfoa.org/hof_page.php?id=11
  29. https://www.profootballhistory.com/ed-hochuli/
  30. https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/ed-hochuli-joined-nfl-1990-retiring-nfl-referee/story?id=53558316
  31. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/1722442
  32. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/09/02/locked-out-refs-feeling-penalized/03fb839c-b3f1-45ed-9680-f0677279a7c3/
  33. https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2001/0831/1246562.html
  34. https://www.nfl.com/news/hochuli-devastated-following-blown-call-09000d5d80aeabaf
  35. https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3594778
  36. https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2017/12/10/watch-referee-ed-hochuli-undoes-re-does-lions-forced-fumble/80143604007/
  37. https://www.bucsnation.com/2017/12/10/16758798/the-referees-just-let-the-lions-overturn-an-unnecessary-roughness-penalty
  38. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22667242/nfl-officials-ed-hochuli-jeff-triplette-retiring
  39. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201801060ram.htm
  40. https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/07/sport/nfl-referee-ed-hochuli-retirement-shawn-hochuli-promoted
  41. https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/10/03/ed-hochuli-1
  42. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-referees-ed-hochuli-jeff-triplette-retiring-0ap3000000919752
  43. https://vault.si.com/vault/2006/01/16/never-flagging
  44. https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/133557/ed-hochuli-explains-his-explanations
  45. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/09/ed-hochulis-lesson-for-nfl-refs-become-celebrities/263007/
  46. https://larrybrownsports.com/football/twitter-reacts-ed-hochuli-legendary-biceps-retiring/431648
  47. https://www.footballzebras.com/2023/02/football-zebras-names-its-5th-class-of-officials-for-consideration-in-pro-football-hall-of-fame/
  48. https://nesn.com/2012/09/ed-hochulis-referee-bootcamp-to-provide-smooth-transition-back-to-work-for-nfl-referees/
  49. https://www.footballzebras.com/2025/01/hochuli-and-blakeman-are-the-referees-for-the-conference-championships/
  50. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hochuli-7b167379
  51. http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/03/20/80229-prosecutor-hochuli-named-to-juvenile-court-bench/
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