CFL’s head of officiating announces retirement

The man in charge of the CFL’s officiating is leaving the job.

Glen Johnson, league’s senior vice president of football announced on Thursday he is retiring  after almost three decades.

“It just feels like the right time,” Johnson said in statement. “Our game is in a great place, with scoring up, penalties down and a strong team of dedicated officials in place. And while I will always be a huge CFL fan, I’d like to see what it’s like to spend summer and fall weekends focused on family and friends instead of football alone.”

Johnson has worked for the CFL for 28 seasons, including  24 as an on-field official.  He worked 416 games, earning eleven Grey Cup assignments. His father Gord spent 16 years as an on-field official who earned four Grey Cup assignments and the Johnsons remain the only father-and-son duo to have both officiated a Grey Cup game.

“Glen has made a huge contribution to our league, on and off the field,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League. “He has been an active official, a dedicated administrator, a strong advocate and, through his work with our coaches and rules committee, an architect of our game.”

Johnson joined the league office following the 2013 CFL season. Since then, he has been responsible for spearheading innovations including the use of video replay to review judgment calls such as pass interference amd the introduction of the first ever officiating exchange program between the CFL and the NFL .

Johnson has agreed to continue to consult on an as-needed basis.