Super Bowl official's retirement ends use of classic equipment

The Super Bowl officials garnered controversy with the decision to flag the Philadelphia Eagles for defensive holding late in the fourth quarter, essentially ending the game. However, that wasn’t the only thing notable about the game for them. The Super Bowl also marked the last time a piece of equipment is going to be used.

That’s because longtime NFL linesman Jeff Bergman is retiring after 30 seasons. He’s the last official to use a metal whistle in the NFL.

You can actually hear that metal whistle, here:

Line judge Jeff Bergman has retired after 30 seasons. With that, it is the last time officials will hear the warble of a metal whistle in the NFL. Here is one of the last times you will hear that sound in a game pic.twitter.com/mz8X37TkC3

— Fᴏᴏᴛʙᴀʟʟ Zᴇʙʀᴀs🇺🇦 (@footballzebras) February 13, 2023

The whistle may not seem like a big deal, but it’s one piece of equipment that is used on every single play. The NFL decided to move away from the metal whistle, with its iconic sound, which coupled with Bergman’s retirement means that this Super Bowl is the last time it will be heard.

Here’s to hoping the move is good for officials and the game.

Controversial call impacts the Super Bowl

The controversial defensive holding call at the end of the Super Bowl let the Chiefs drain the clock and kick a game-winning field goal with just a few seconds left. Without the call, the Chiefs would have had to quick earlier and the Eagles would have had some time to respond.

You can watch the penalty, here:

Real penalty, or script?pic.twitter.com/kZ8xwLv3f0

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 13, 2023

Decide for yourself if it’s a penalty or not. Fans will, of course, think that it was a good or bad call depending on who they were rooting for in the game.