The football world is still reeling from the terrible news of an official passing away soon after working the game between the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs. Longtime NFL referee Carl Madsen died on Sunday on the way home from officiating the Week 7 matchup.
More information has since come out on exactly what happened to him.
The Nashville Police Department told TMZ that early signs indicate Madsen suffered “a medical emergency” while driving on I-65 North. A spokesperson reportedly said officers answered a call about a motorist blocking a traffic lane and found Madsen unconscious at the scene.
“Police say they broke into the vehicle via the passenger side window and removed Madsen and immediately started chest compressions.”
His exact cause of death remains unknown. He was just 71-years-old.
Madsen spent the last 12 years as a replay official and before that spent 12 years as a field official. He was reportedly tied with Paul Weidner as the league’s most experienced replay official.
“Carl Madsen was an NFL officiating fixture for more than two decades, first as a highly-respected on-field official before transitioning to a replay role in 2009,” NFL senior vice president Walt Anderson said in a statement. “A terrific friend and colleague, Carl’s love of football and dedication to officiating was ever-present, as he generously shared his time to mentor young officials at clinics across the country. A veteran of the Air Force, Carl had a tremendous spirit and will be greatly missed.”
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NFL Referees Association president Scott Green also released a statement to Pro Football Talk:
“Carl will be missed by those who worked with him on the field and in replay,” Green said. “He had a nickname among his fellow officials of “Big Country” which was not only related to his size but to his big personality as a warm and generous man.”
