MARION, OH — Randy Roseberry grew up in Waldo, Ohio—a town with just 326 residents and a world-famous fried bologna sandwich. Today, he belongs to an even smaller group. Roseberry is one of only 17 people on the planet serving as a replay assistant for the National Football League.
From the Big 12 to the Big Stage
Roseberry’s rise through the officiating ranks isn’t just about luck. It’s about precision. After grinding through the collegiate levels, most recently in the Big 12 Conference, the NFL came calling in 2025. He spent this past season in the thick of the action, including a high-stakes assignment during the AFC Wild Card matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars in January.
In a league where a single blade of grass can determine a touchdown, the pressure in the booth is suffocating. Roseberry works alongside the replay official to monitor every angle, ensuring the “eye in the sky” never blinks. While fans in the stands scream at the Jumbotron, Roseberry stays locked on the monitors, processing 4K feeds in real-time to get the call right.
“You don’t think about the millions of people watching. You think about the frame. Was the ball moving before the knee hit? That’s the only thing that exists in that moment.”
The Small-Town Edge
The Marion community is noticing. This week, Roseberry was named the “MarionMade!” feature, a series highlighting local success stories. It’s a sharp contrast: going from the quiet streets of Waldo to the roaring stadiums of the NFL. But that small-town focus is exactly what makes a great official. There is no room for distraction when you are the final line of defense against a blown call.
The 2026 offseason is now in full swing, but the work for officials never truly stops. As the league prepares for the draft and the upcoming schedule release, Roseberry and the officiating department are already reviewing rule changes and tech upgrades. For a kid from Waldo, the view from the booth has never looked better.
