Shawn Hochuli | |
|---|---|
 Hochuli in 2025 | |
| Born | (1978-06-25)June 25, 1978 (age 47) Tempe, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | NFLAmerican football official (2014–present) |
| Parent | Ed Hochuli |
Shawn Hochuli (/ˈhɒkjʊli/HOCK-yuu-lee; born June 25, 1978) is an Americanfootballofficial in theNational Football League (NFL). He wears jersey #83. He entered the league in the2014 NFL season and was promoted in2018 from back judge to referee, following the retirement of his father, longtime refereeEd Hochuli, and another veteran official,Jeff Triplette.[1]
Hochuli playedcollege football atPitzer College.[2] Outside of the NFL, he has also worked as an official in thePac-12 Conference,[3]Arena Football League,[4] andarenafootball2 games.[5]
Hochuli worked his first NFL season in 2014 as a side judge.[6]
During the2021 NFC Divisional playoff game between theTampa Bay Buccaneers and theLos Angeles Rams, he gaveTom Brady the first unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of Brady's career.[7]
On November 10, 2024, Hochuli made a false start penalty announcement in German, during an international contest between theCarolina Panthers andNew York Giants inMunich. This referenced bothClay Martin's announcement from the previous year's Munich game, and his father's announcement from the inaugural Mexico game atAzteca Stadium on October 2, 2005.[8]
During the 2024 NFC Championship Game, he invoked the rarely-usedunfair acts rule whereby thePhiladelphia Eagles were nearly awarded a touchdown due to multiple consecutive encroachment penalties from theWashington Commanders.[9]
On August 13, 2011, he was head referee forArenaBowl XXIV between theJacksonville Sharks andArizona Rattlers. He also worked as head referee for a 2017 pre-season game.[citation needed]