Who was Art McNally? Wife, Family, Net worth, Age, Obituary, NFL official dies at 97

According to a statement from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Monday, Art McNally, the “father of instant replay” and the first game official to be inducted, passed away on Sunday at the age of 97 from natural causes in a hospital in Pennsylvania close to his home.

For nine seasons, Art McNally worked as an NFL official, first as a field judge in 1959 and then as a referee from 1960 to 1967. He was appointed the NFL’s official supervisor in 1968, and it was around this time that he developed the first professional sports officiating training and evaluation video study program.

Under his direction, the NFL’s officiating staff benefited from technology, and McNally eventually introduced instant replay to the league. In 1992, he served as the coordinator of officials for the World League of American Football after leaving the NFL in 1991.

In 1995, he returned to the NFL full-time, and from then until 2007, he served as an associate supervisor of officials. He worked with the league as an official observer for the following six years.

Art McNally was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the first time in August.

“I’ve been very fortunate having a career of many years in football, consistently, with the finest staff of officials throughout the country,” he said by video at his induction. “I know from the dedication, the love of the game, the desire to go out on the field every weekend, to see to it that the game is played according to the rules of the National Football League.”

He claimed that officials work for the benefit of the players, coaches, and spectators. He also offered counsel to other officials.

“This is the biggest thing, I think, for an official: Do the job. Hopefully nobody is even going to know you’re around. Make the calls the proper way, the way they should be, with a heavy dose of common sense,”.

he said

McNally was described as a “quiet, honest man of integrity” in the statement by Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“His legacy as a strong leader who helped usher in the advanced training of officials and the technology necessary to keep up with a faster and more complicated game will be preserved forever in Canton.”

Of the 362 members of the Hall of Fame, McNally was the oldest living individual at the time of his passing.

In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell offered his sympathy.

“Art McNally was an extraordinary man, the epitome of integrity and class,” Goodell said. “Throughout his distinguished officiating career, he earned the eternal respect of the entire football community. Fittingly, he was the first game official enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. But more importantly, he was a Hall of Fame person in absolutely every way.”

Earlier life of Art McNally, Where was he from? What about his Education?

Arthur Ignatius McNally was born on July 1, 1925. He was 97 years old when he passed away on 1st January of 2023. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the city where McNally was born. Prior to graduating from Philadelphia’s Temple University, he completed his senior year at a Catholic high school.

Art Mcnally Family

Before being hired as the NFL’s coordinator of officials prior to the 1968 season. McNally worked as a teacher and coach at Central High School in the Philadelphia school system. He is also said to have served in the Marines during World War II.

Who was Art McNally Wife? What about their Children?

Rita, Art McNally first wife, passed away in 1980 after a long marriage. Sharon became his wife later on. His children are  Marybeth, Tom, and Michael.

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How much was Art McNally’s Net Worth, Career Earnings, & Salary?

Art McNally net worth was estimated to be $6 million for the year 2022. However, his net wiry for the year 2023 was yet to be made available at the time of his death.

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