Craig Wrolstad became a teacher and coach and now is athletic director at Seattle Christian Schools in Tukwila. But Wrolstad's passion for officiating never paled and he proved to be anything but an Average Joe in stripes. After a quick climb into Pac-10 football, he caught the eye of NFL scouts and was accepted into the NFL Referees Association in 2003 at age 37, making him the second-youngest active NFL official at the time.
Wrolstad continues to turn heads.
"I consider him one of the best officials we have in the league," said Tony Corrente, one of the NFL's 17 head referees and the chief of Wrolstad's crew from his rookie season until this year. "His ability and expertise are far beyond his years. It's very obvious and apparent he's an athlete. With his athleticism and quickness, he's able to be in the right place at the right time."
Wrolstad, now 42, is one of 17 field judges in the league and his responsibilities include watching any action around a receiver, most notably defensive or offensive pass interference. He stays in shape by running and lifting weights. Officials are tested on their fitness each year and have their own training camp in mid-July. They spend hours watching film, before and after games, and are critiqued on their performances each Wednesday during the season.