Art Demmas

Who is Art Demmas?

Art Demmas was an American Professional Football on-field official for 28 seasons. He was in the American Football League in 1968 and 1969 and in the NFL from the 1970 to 1996 NFL season. During his career as a Professional Football official, Demmas was assigned to four Super Bowls, all as an umpire. On the field, Demmas wore uniform number 78, which is now worn by Greg Meyer. He now serves as a league representative and observer for the NFL.

Demmas worked much of his career as the umpire on the crew of a fellow AFL official, referee Ben Dreith.

During the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XIII, Dallas Cowboys safety Charlie Waters collided with Demmas as he was moving into position to tackle Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris. Harris scored a touchdown on the play, giving the Steelers a 28–17 lead, and Pittsburgh went on to win the game, 35–31.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Demmas played football at and graduated from Vanderbilt University, learning the game from College Football Hall of Fame coach Jess Neely.