Burl Abron Toler Sr.
(May 9, 1928 – August 16, 2009)
He made history as the first African-American NFL official during his 25-season career from 1965 to 1989. He served as a field judge and head linesman, even officiating in Super Bowl XIV in 1980.
Toler’s football journey began at the University of San Francisco, where he was a standout linebacker. Despite not playing high school football, he excelled in college and earned his degree in science in 1952.
Initially drafted by the Cleveland Browns, Toler’s playing career ended due to a knee injury. He then transitioned to become an NFL official, breaking barriers as the first African-American field official in a major American professional sports league.
After his officiating career, Toler worked as a game observer for the NFL, grading officials for eight years.
Beyond football, Toler made significant contributions to education, serving as a teacher and later as the first African-American secondary school principal at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in San Francisco. The school was renamed in his honor.
Toler’s impact extended to the University of San Francisco, where he served on the Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1998.
He was a devoted family man, married to Melvia since 1952, with six children and numerous grandchildren. Toler passed away in Castro Valley, California, on August 16, 2009.
His grandson, Burl Toler III, also had a career in football, playing as a wide receiver in the Arena Football League and spending time on NFL team rosters from 2006 to 2008.