Burl Toler

Burl Abron Toler, Sr. (May 9, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee - August 16, 2009 in Castro Valley, California) was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons from 1965 to 1989. He served as a field judge and head linesman throughout his career and is most notable for being the first African-American official in the NFL. He also officiated in one Super Bowl, Super Bowl XIV in 1980, and wore the uniform number 37.

On April 21, 2008 Toler Sr. was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Toler attended the University of San Francisco and was a linebacker. Despite his physical gifts and strapping size, Toler never even played a down of prep football at Manassas High School in his native Memphis, but quickly emerged as a dominant force once recruited to the Bay Area. While at City College of San Francisco, Toler teamed with future Dons teammate and NFL Hall-of-Famer Ollie Matson to lead the school to the “Mythical” Junior College National Championship in 1948. He was a member of the 1951 undefeated Dons football team of which three of his teammates would later be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after successful careers in the NFL: Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, and Bob St. Clair. Toler earned his degree in science from USF in 1952 and added a Master’s in 1966.

Toler was a 9th round draft pick (number 105 overall) for the Cleveland Browns, but seriously injured his knee during a college all-star game that ended his football playing career, so he decided to become an official instead. After retiring as an NFL official in 1990, he served as a game observer for the league, which involved grading officials, for eight years.

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