Four NFL officials worked two different games on Sunday as a result of leaguewide travel issues created by a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop, according to ESPN.
Don Willard, Terry Killens, Jabir Walker, and Justin Larrew worked the Miami Dolphins against the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. ET in Indianapolis before driving 110 miles to Cincinnati for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals nightcap, which kicked off at 8:20 p.m. ET, ESPN reported.
The adjusted assignments were part of the NFL’s wider plan to reassign officials to games within driving distance of their hometowns following the FAA stoppage, ESPN noted. Willard, who normally works as a side judge, instead served as referee for both games, according to ESPN.
Don Willard isn’t the only #NFL official doing two games tomorrow as of the current assignments. Willard, the side judge who will serve as referee for @NFLonCBS’ #Dolphins-#Colts game before driving to Cincy to ref @SNFonNBC’s Steelers-#Bengals game, is slated to be joined by…
The FAA grounded all flights nationwide for several hours on November 13, 2026, with transportation officials citing extraordinary circumstances caused by communications issues at regional air traffic control centers, the NFL reported.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters that new technology being added to the air traffic control system overloaded antiquated parts of it, causing intermittent communications and radar gaps that led to the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years, the New York Post reported.
The #NFL’s replay officials and assistants were all in Detroit for a clinic Friday. I’m told by the league office that ALL are able to get to their originally assigned games, with the exception of #Panthers-#Saints . The replay official’s duties for that game will be handled from…
“Each of the league’s 17 officiating crews have a backup referee identified, and that individual trains throughout the year to work at the referee position should the need arise,” the NFL said in a statement.
Alongside the Indianapolis-to-Cincinnati crew, the league’s emergency adjustments placed other backup referees into active roles, according to CBS Sports. Umpire Duane Heydt refereed the Carolina Panthers against the New Orleans Saints, and umpire Barry Anderson refereed the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Tennessee Titans, the NFL announced. Additionally, the Panthers’ home game against the Saints operated without on-site replay officials and assistants due to the travel impacts, CBS Sports reported.
The league’s emergency plan allowed the Week 10 schedule to proceed without postponement, MARCA noted.
The historic aviation disruption triggered a wave of schedule adjustments across American sports. In college football, teams scrambled to secure alternative travel arrangements after the nationwide ground stop grounded more than 2,000 flights. Programs such as Auburn and Purdue opted to travel to their respective games by charter bus. Meanwhile, the matchup between Ole Miss and Oklahoma was rescheduled to Sunday afternoon in the middle of the professional football slate.
With tomorrow’s #NFL games featuring thrown-together officiating crews on new assignments, I asked a longtime (now-retired) NFL official if that presented any specific challenges. He said familiarity and a general crew tempo are real, so we should watch how the officials adjust…
The Sunday night divisional matchup in Cincinnati featured the Steelers and the Bengals, with the NFL noting it was a marquee AFC North game. The contest originally slated Clete Blakeman to referee, but the emergency travel modifications placed Willard and his traveling crew in charge instead.
Driving between the two venues covers roughly 110 miles, with normal traffic conditions permitting a transit time under two hours. Observers said that any overtime period during the game in Indianapolis would squeeze the travel window even further before the 8:20 p.m. kickoff.
Trying to avoid further travel issues stemming from the FAA ground stop Friday, the NFL adjusted its officiating assignments for today, reassigning officials to games within driving distance of their hometown. Four officials will do double duty and work back-to-back games… pic.twitter.com/MZ3gIVF9XG
Earlier coverage: NFL Reassigns Officials for Week 10 Games
More on Federal Aviation Administration
Per the NFL: “Due to the ongoing nationwide impact to air travel this weekend, the NFL has adjusted its officiating assignments for Week 10 games, reassigning officials to games within driving distance of their hometowns. The changes will necessitate that three back up referees…
NFL referee Don Willard will officiate two games in one day because of travel delays from the FAA's ground stop. Ref Dolphins-Colts at 1 p.m. in Indianapolis Drive 110 miles to Cincinnati Ref Steelers-Bengals at 8:20 p.m. pic.twitter.com/yf3MV2QjaC
Related reading