Tra Blake

{{short description|American football official}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox person

| image = Tra Blake at Commanders vs. Jaguars (September 11, 2022).jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Blake in 2022

| name = Tra Blake

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| education = University of Central Florida

| occupation = NFL official (2020–present)

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| nationality = American

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}}

Jerome "Tra" Blake was an American professional football official in the National Football League (NFL) since the 2020 NFL season, wearing uniform number 33 until {{nfly|2021}}; he now wears uniform number 3.{{Cite web |title=Tra Blake NFL Official Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/officials/BlakTr0r.htm |access-date=February 17, 2024 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Schultz |first=Mark |date=2022-08-13 |title=A numbers game: 2 officials change uniform numbers |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2022/08/two-jersey-number-changes-in-2022/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=Football Zebras |language=en-US}}

Career

Blake officiated in Conference USA and the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he worked at deep wing and referee positions.{{cite web| title=Umpire Tra Blake promote to referee position | url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2022/03/umpire-tra-blake-promoted-to-referee-position/ | publisher=Football Zebras | date=March 24, 2022 | accessdate=April 7, 2022}} Blake was also a referee for the Alliance of American Football in 2019 and the XFL in 2020.{{cite web| title=Officiating crews for the 2019 AAF season | url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2019/02/officiating-crews-for-the-2019-aaf-season/ | publisher=Football Zebras | date=February 7, 2019 | accessdate=April 7, 2022}}{{cite web| title=Officiating crews for the 2020 XFL season | url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2020/01/officiating-crews-for-the-2020-xfl-season/ | publisher=Football Zebras | date=January 28, 2020 | accessdate=April 7, 2022}}

Blake was hired by the NFL in 2020 as a field judge. He was reassigned to the umpire position in 2021, and was promoted to referee for the start of the 2022 NFL season following the retirement of Tony Corrente.

= 2024 crew<ref>{{Cite web |last=Austro |first=Ben |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Officiating crews for the 2023 season |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2023/06/officiating-crews-for-the-2024-season/ |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=Football Zebras |language=en-US}}</ref> =

  • R: Tra Blake
  • U: Carl Paganelli
  • DJ: Patrick Turner
  • LJ: Tom Eaton
  • FJ: Mearl Robinson
  • SJ: Don Willard
  • BJ: Grantis Bell
  • RO: Tyler Cerimeli
  • RA: Tim Robinson

On October 24, 2024, during a regular season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams, Blake controversially missed a face mask penalty when Rams linebacker Byron Young brought down quarterback Sam Darnold in the end zone for a safety.{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Adam |date=October 25, 2024 |title=NFL Ref Tra Blake Admits He Didn't See Sam Darnold Facemask in Vikings' Loss to Rams |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10140843-nfl-ref-tra-blake-admits-he-didnt-see-sam-darnold-facemask-in-vikings-loss-to-rams |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en-US}}

Reassignment

In 2025, Blake was reassigned back to the umpire position. He was replaced by Alex Moore.{{Cite web |last=Filipe |first=Cameron |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Alex Moore promoted to referee, Tra Blake returning to umpire position |url=https://www.footballzebras.com/2025/04/alex-moore-promoted-to-referee-tra-blake-returning-to-umpire-position/ |access-date=April 5, 2025 |website=Football Zebras |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=April 5, 2025 |title=Referee Tra Blake is reassigned to umpire |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/referee-tra-blake-is-reassigned-to-umpire |access-date=April 5, 2025 |website=Pro Football Talk |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Blake resides in Clermont, Florida. Outside of the NFL, Blake is a quality assurance director for an Orlando-based pharmaceutical software company.

References

{{Reflist}}