The
NFL has quietly made a big officiating shake-up heading into the 2025 season, and fans aren’t exactly shedding tears over it. The league reassigned Tra Blake, the referee responsible for several controversial no-calls, after a series of high-profile mistakes, including one that helped the
Kansas City Chiefs secure a key win.
Blake, who served as an NFL referee for three seasons, will return to his former role as an umpire, according to
FootballZebras.com. While the league hasn’t publicly detailed the reason for his demotion, the timing suggests the missed calls, particularly one involving the Chiefs, played a part in the decision.
Controversial Calls And Public Backlash
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks with referee Tra Blake (Photo By Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
One of Blake’s most criticized moments came during a Week 3 matchup between the Chiefs and the Falcons on
Sunday Night Football. With the game on the line, Chiefs safety Bryan Cook appeared to wrap up Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts well before the ball arrived. No flag was thrown. The Chiefs held on for the win.
The league later acknowledged the officiating error, and Blake issued a formal statement explaining the mistake.
It wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier that season, Blake’s crew also missed a clear facemask penalty during a
Thursday Night Football game between the Vikings and Rams. Both calls generated widespread backlash online and led to renewed calls for accountability among NFL officials.
The NFL rarely reassigns referees mid-tenure, making this move notable.
FootballZebras reports that officials demoted Blake, making him just the 12th referee to face this in the
Super Bowl era. He served as a field judge and umpire before earning a promotion to referee in 2022 after Tony Corrente retired.
In Blake’s place, the league has promoted Alex Moore to referee. It’s unclear whether Moore will inherit Blake’s crew or start fresh with a new team.
Blake did not receive any playoff assignments during his three years as a head official. While he remains part of the officiating roster, the league’s decision speaks volumes, especially after a season in which key missed calls helped shape outcomes on the field.