Jeff Triplette - Officiating Career

Officiating Career

Triplette joined the NFL as a field judge in 1996, then switched to back judge in 1998 after the NFL swapped position titles that season, and became a referee in 1999 after four-time Super Bowl referee Jerry Markbreit announced his retirement.

On December 19, 1999, Triplette accidentally hit the Cleveland Browns' Orlando Brown in the eye with a penalty flag weighed with ball bearings. Video shows that Triplette immediately apologized to Brown, who was then tended to by the medical staff, but a few minutes later, Brown attempted to rejoin the team on the field for the next play, but Triplette prevented him from entering for the next play per NFL rules which stipulate that if a player incurs an injury timeout, he must sit out the next play. Not wanting to sit out the next play, and becoming frustrated with Triplette who injured him, Brown shoved Triplette to the ground. Brown was ejected. In an interview following the game, Brown cited a pledge to defend the blindside of then Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch as the reason he wanted to return to the field so badly. Initially the NFL suspended Brown indefinitely, but lifted the suspension when it was learned that the flag had temporarily blinded him. Brown was cut from the Browns in 2000, and he later sued the NFL in 2001 for $200 million stating the incident prematurely ended his career. Brown settled with the NFL for between $15 million to $25 million in 2002. The injury prevented Brown from returning to the NFL until 2003 when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

The next season, Triplette also accidentally struck Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Aaron Beasley in the helmet.

Peyton Manning is a frequent user of the fake spike, and "sold it" so well in a 2001 game against New Orleans that Triplette blew the whistle to stop the play, costing the Colts a possible touchdown.

On December 14, 2008, a scramble for a fumble late in the 4th quarter during a contest between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills resulted in Triplette being knocked over by one of the players. The hit left Triplette with a bloody and swollen nose for the rest of the game.