Longtime NFL official Carl Madsen died on Sunday while returning home from the Kansas City Chiefs-Tennessee Titans game, the league announced Monday. He was 71.
Walt Anderson, who is NFL senior vice president of officiating training and development confirmed the news of Madsen’s passing in a statement. The cause of death was not immediately known.
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"Carl Madsen was an NFL officiating fixture for more than two decades, first as a highly respected on-field official before transitioning to a replay role beginning in 2009," Anderson’s statement read.
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"A terrific friend and colleague, Carl's love of football and dedication to officiating was ever-present, as he generously shared his time to mentor young officials at clinics across the country. A veteran of the Air Force, Carl had a tremendous spirit and will be greatly missed."
According to the NFL Network, Madsen died while "en route home" from the Titans game in Nashville.
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Madsen served 12 seasons as an on-field official from 1997-2008, according to NFL.com. The following year he became a replay official. He worked three playoff games as an umpire and four more as a replay official.