NFL replay official Carl Madsen died Sunday at the age of 71.
Madsen died while returning home from the Kansas City Chiefs-Tennessee Titans game.
"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 beginning in 2009," NFL senior VP of officiating training and development 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."
Madsen spent 12 seasons as an on-field official from 1997 to 2008, before becoming a replay official in 2009. Madsen was in his 12th year as a replay official this season, the most experienced, along with Paul Weidner, of the NFL's 17 replay officials.
Madsen served in the U.S. Air Force from 1973-76.
