Dale Williams, a 24-year NFL head linesman and College World Series baseball umpire, had a sparkling officiating career at a high level in two sports. He officiated NFL football from 1980-2003, and umpired college baseball for 32 years.

A graduate of California State University, Northridge, Williams played baseball for the school. He took up officiating and rose quickly through the ranks, officiating in the Pac-8 and joining the NFL in 1980. He wore number 8 for most of his career. During his NFL tenure, he worked on crews lead by referees Ben Dreith, Red Cashion, Fred Silva, Howard Roe, Ron Blum, Dick Hantak, Mike Carey and Larry Nemmers.

He assisted Ben Dreith in breaking up the fight that lead to Dreith’s famous penalty announcement.

During his 24-year NFL career, Williams worked 348 regular season games and 23 playoff games: 5 wild card games, 12 divisional contests, 3 conference championships and Super Bowls XX, XXVI, and XXXVII. His first playoff game was in his second season and it was a classic — the Epic in Miami. While he didn’t signal the touchdown, Williams (wearing number 23 during the 1979-81 numbering system) followed the signature play down the sideline.

An epic baseball umpiring career

For 32 years, Williams was a college baseball umpire, advancing to the Division I level. He worked the College World Series a total of eight times, and he worked the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2013 he was honored with the National Collegiate Umpire Award.