NFL Umpire Alan Eck stands on the field during an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Eck, a Williamsport native, was promoted from umpire to referee in the NFL. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)

After the 2021 NFL season had wrapped up, Williamsport native Alan Eck knew he was ready to take the next step in his NFL career and become a head official in the league. But, unfortunately for Eck, the call didn’t come that offseason for a promotion.

So Eck simply went back to refereeing this past NFL season and had a better year and postseason, including refereeing in the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.

“I was cautiously optimistic, so I wasn’t overly surprised, but at the same time there’s other outstanding officials,” Eck said. “So to get that call, it’s an honor and rewarding and a relief to finally get the call.”

That call was from the NFL offices to inform Eck that he would be one of 17 head officials come 2023. Eck was officially promoted from umpire to referee, replacing Jerome Boger who retired.

“I got a lot of feedback. Guys I played high school ball with; (there’s) a lot of pride they take in looking at my success. It’s inspiring, it’s uplifting. Some of those guys got even more excited than I did about getting promoted,” Eck said. “It’s neat to see guys reaching out [who I hadn’t] talked to in a while. They told me how proud they are of me.”

Eck, a 1986 Williamsport graduate and former Millionaire quarterback, recently completed his seventh season of being an NFL official. Eck began his career in 2016 as a side judge before being an umpire for the past six seasons. He refereed 15 games in 2016, 14 in 2017, 15 in 2018, 13 in 2019, 14 in 2020, 17 in 2021 including the AFC divisional game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and 17 in 2022.

“Philadelphia has great fans, very passionate and very loud. These are the fans that booed Mike Schmitt and Charles Barkley,” Eck said. “They’re known as being very passionate fans. I kind of like being in the outdoor stadiums as opposed to the domes. Hoping to get a little snow, weather was actually warmer than usual.”

Eck’s duties are a bit of everything.

“I’m kind of like the quarterback of the crew,” Eck said.

He plans pre-team meetings before games, is involved in breaking down videos, scouting both teams for upcoming games and going over tests from the league office or introducing any memos that came from the office.

“Things of that nature,” Eck said.

He also will be interacting with graders from the NFL office with how his crew gets graded and relay that information.

“I defend my crew with things which may have transpired,” Eck said. “Just make sure we don’t get downgraded when we shouldn’t have.”

Eck’s career as a referee started years ago when he was umpiring Senior League baseball games.

That first game lasted three hours, and he received just $5 for his time.

That, and a snow cone.

“I’ve come a long ways. Early years, you’re just investing all your time into it and clinics to get to Division I. You’re really not making much money,” Eck said. “It’s an investment, like college. That was my mantra for the first eight years. My wife (Michelle) said ‘well, you should have a doctorate in officiating by now.'”

Eck more than enjoys his time being an NFL referee. He worked his ways over the last two decades, however, to reach it.

He spent 20 years officiating in high school and college football and officiated for 11 years with indoor football in the spring before being hired by the NFL.

“There’s thousands of college officials every year. A lot aspire to be in NFL, but there’s only 122 NFL officials. You get to see the best athletes in the world and be around some incredible athletes, even offensive and defensive lineman are quick and agile and present challenges in ways to work and get angles and get around them,” Eck said.

“You get to officiate the best athletes, and a lot of other good college officials aspire to do so.”

And Eck doesn’t take his position lightly. He’s beyond glad and honored to be in the NFL as an official.

“It’s huge. There’s only 17 head referees in the NFL, so to be one of those, it’s quite an honor,” Eck said. “There’s a lot of good officials that were vying from same position — [I’m] humbled and honored.”