DeBell started his career officiating high school football in upstate New York and then eventually moved on to college football . He officiated in the Conference USA and the Big East before joining the NFL . He also refereed in Ivy League and Atlantic 10 as well as the Arena Football League and NFL Europe . He officiated the Emerald Bowl in December 2004 . DeBell made his debut in the NFL as a side judge on the crew of Alberto Riveron in 2009 . His first NFL game that he officiated was in Tampa Bay , Florida , where the Dallas Cowboys played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He officiated 17 games his first NFL football season . His first NFL playoff appearance was in the 2010 – 11 NFC Divisional round between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks . In 2011 , he was awarded the Outstanding Football Official Award ( Rochester ) by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame ( NFF ) . For 2014 , DeBell was on the officiating crew headed by referee Bill Vinovich
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
Jimmy DeBell