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Walt Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Anderson in 2008 | |
| Born | Walter John Anderson (1952-09-29)September 29, 1952 (age 73) |
| Education | UTHealth School of Dentistry (Doctorate of Dentistry, 1978) Sam Houston State University (Bachelor's degree, 1974) |
| Occupations | NFLOfficiating & Rules Analyst (2024–present) NFL Senior Vice President ofOfficiating Training & Development (2020–2024) NFLofficial (1996–2019) Coordinator of Football Officials,Big 12 (2006–2018[1]) |
| Spouse | Afshan |
| Children | 5 (1 with current wife) |
Walter John Anderson (born September 29, 1952)[2] is a formerAmerican football official in theNational Football League (NFL) from the1996 NFL season to the2019 NFL season.[3] He wore uniform number 66. Anderson spent his first seven seasons in the NFL as a line judge before being promoted to referee for the start of the2003 NFL season afterDick Hantak andBob McElwee announced their retirements.[4] He is notable for officiatingSuper Bowl XXXV. Anderson was also named as referee forSuper Bowl XLV which was played on February 6, 2011, inArlington, Texas, atCowboys Stadium.[5]
After retiring from officiating, he was the NFL senior vice president of officiating training & development from May 2020 to April 2024.[6] He is currently the officiating & rules analyst for the NFL.[7]
Born inDeFuniak Springs, Florida, Anderson was raised inChannelview, Texas where his father was ahigh school footballhead coach.[4] He playedquarterback for his father at Channelview.[4] Later, he playedfootball forSam Houston State University, where he was a two-time AcademicAll-American[3] and lettered four years.[4] He graduated from Sam Houston State in 1974.[3]
He is married to Afshan and they have one child together (he and his wife each have two children from previous marriages).[3] He currently resides inSugar Land, Texas.[3] His son Derek is also an official who joined the NFL for the 2024 season.[8]
After completing his undergraduate studies atSam Houston State University and receiving adoctorate of dentistry from theUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry, he became adentist.[3] He retired from dentistry in 2003 when he was promoted to referee in the NFL.[4]
On April 26, 2006, Anderson was named Coordinator of Football Officials for theBig 12 Conference, succeeding former NFL field judge Tim Millis in this position.[3]
Wanting to stay active in football following college, Anderson decided to pursue a career in officiating.[2] He began officiating junior high and little leagues, high school, then eventually college.[2] In 11 years of college experience, he worked games in theLone Star (Division II),Southland (Division I-FCS), andSouthwest Conferences (Division I).[3] At the college level, Anderson was scouted by ex-NFL officials who were looking to fill openings at the professional football level.[2]
Anderson joined the NFL in 1996 and, as of 2015, he has officiated in 17 playoff games, including eight Wild Card, two Divisional, five Conference Championship games, and two Super Bowls:Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 (as line judge) andSuper Bowl XLV in 2011 (as referee).[9] He was the referee in the January 18, 2015AFC Championship game, known for thedeflategate controversy. Anderson cites Super Bowl XXXV as being his most memorable game.[2]
Anderson refereed the final NFL game in San Diego, aKansas City Chiefs win over theChargers.[citation needed]
Anderson's 2019 NFL officiating crew consisted of umpire Ruben Fowler, down judge Tom Stephan, line judgeByron Boston, field judge Lee Dyer, side judge Rick Patterson, back judge Keith Ferguson, replay official Brian Matoren, and replay assistant Saleem Choudhry.[10]
Anderson's final NFL game as referee was a 2019 NFC Divisional Playoff game between theMinnesota Vikings and theSan Francisco 49ers atLevi's Stadium inSanta Clara, California. After that game, he retired from officiating and was promoted to the NFL front office as a senior vice president in 2020.[6] In April 2024, he transitioned to a new role as NFL rules analyst and club communications liaison.[7]