Ed Hochuli Net Worth: Referee & Attorney Earnings 2025

Discover Ed Hochuli Net Worth in 2025, built from his NFL referee career and successful law practice. Learn how he achieved financial success.

Aug 11, 2025

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Ed Hochuli is a retired NFL referee and attorney whose presence on the field made him unforgettable. Born on December 25, 1950, in Milwaukee, he worked as an NFL official from 1990 until his retirement in 2017, wearing uniform number 85. Before joining the league, he played college football at the University of Texas at El Paso and later practiced law at Jones, Skelton & Hochuli in Arizona. Known for his muscular build and clear game explanations, Hochuli became a fan favorite, even earning “best referee” honors in an ESPN poll. Over his long career, he officiated two Super Bowls and many high-stakes playoff games.

Early Life

Ed Hochuli was born on December 25, 1950, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and lived there until he was eight years old before his family moved to Tucson, Arizona. He was the second of six children. He went to Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley, just outside Tucson, and graduated in 1969. In high school, he played football (earning all-state honors twice), basketball, wrestling, and ran track. He says his drive to do well came from his older brother Chip and wanting to make his family proud.

After high school, he went to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), earning his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1972. There, he played linebacker from 1969 to 1972 and earned academic honors in the Western Athletic Conference. His father, Walter Hochuli, worked in law as a wills and estate planner, and that influenced Ed to follow the same path. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona Law School in 1976, and during law school, he clerked for two years under United States District Judge Carl Muecke. After finishing school, he was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona.

Officiating Career

Ed Hochuli began his officiating journey while still in law school after a high school coach suggested it as a way to stay connected to football. From about 1970 to 1973, he worked in youth football and Little League Baseball before moving on to officiate high school football in Tucson. His dedication and skill led him to college football, where he served as a line judge in the Big Sky and Pac-10 conferences. In 1989, he applied to the NFL and was hired in 1990 as a back judge, with his first game on August 11, 1990, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

For two years, he worked under referee Howard Roe and also gained experience in the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992. In 1992, after longtime referee Stan Kemp retired due to illness, Hochuli was promoted to referee by senior officiating director Jerry Seeman, receiving the call right after working a preseason game in Tokyo. As a referee, he led crews for Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, served as an alternate official for Super Bowls XXXI, XXXVII, and XXXIX, and by the start of the 2007 season had handled five conference championship games.

Over his 28-year officiating career from 1990 to 2017, he worked about 420 regular season games and 27 playoff games, including 11 wild-card matchups, five divisional games, nine conference championships, and two Super Bowls. His exceptional service to the sport was recognized in 2024 when he received the Art McNally Award, honoring his leadership, respect, and commitment to fair play both on and off the field.