Dick Creed
{{Short description|American football official (1931–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| image_size = 200px
| name = Dick Creed
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1931|12|26}}
| birth_place = Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2024|12|28|1931|12|26}}
| death_place = Struthers, Ohio, U.S.
| education = Youngstown College
| occupation = NFL official (1978–2012)
| spouse =
| parents =
| children =
| awards = Art McNally Award (2012)
}}
Richard L. Creed (December 26, 1931 – December 28, 2024) was an American professional football on-field official.{{cite web |last1=Schultz |first1=Mark |title=2-time Super Bowl official Dick Creed dies at 93 |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2025/01/2-time-super-bowl-official-dick-creed-dies-at-93/ |website=footballzebras |access-date=4 January 2025 |url-status=live}}
Biography
Creed worked two Super Bowls, XXVI as a side judge, and XXX as a back judge. In all, he covered 25 playoff games.
Creed started in the NFL in 1978,{{cite web |title=Dick Creed NFL Officiating Record and bio |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/officials/cree00280.html |website=Pro Football Archives |access-date=5 January 2025}} when the league upgraded to 7-man officiating crews. In his first season, he made a notable call in the fourth quarter of a Patriots-Jets game at Shea Stadium. Creed flagged Jets' defensive back Burgess Owens for a personal foul, which extended the Patriots drive. The Patriots ended up kicking a field goal, and won the game 19–17.{{cite news |last1=Lowitt |first1=Bruce |title=Lady Luck finishes game with Pats |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=feApAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA13&dq=%22Dick+Creed%22&article_id=2619,2784139&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV7_6Fn9-KAxWHMlkFHS5vI204KBDoAXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=%22Dick%20Creed%22&f=false |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=Lewiston Evening Journal |agency=AP Sports |date=20 November 1978 |page=25}}
Creed wore #61 for most of his career. He retired from on-field officiating in 1998, but continued to serve as a replay official for the next 15 years.{{cite web |title=Richard L. Creed Obituary |url=https://www.beckerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/richard-creed |website=Becker Funeral Homes |access-date=4 January 2025}}
Creed died at home in Struthers, Ohio on December 28, 2024, at the age of 93.