In an announcement made by the NFL this week, veteran referee Bill Vinovich has been selected to officiate the upcoming Super Bowl. This will mark Vinovich's third time serving as the referee for the league's biggest game.

Vinovich's first Super Bowl appearance as a referee came in Super Bowl XLIX, when the New England Patriots secured a thrilling 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The game will forever be remembered for the dramatic interception by Russell Wilson at the goal line in the final 30 seconds.

Five years later, Vinovich was back on the field for Super Bowl LIV, where the Kansas City Chiefs emerged triumphant with a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Interestingly, there is a possibility that Vinovich might witness a rematch between these two teams in this year's Super Bowl.

Pro Football Reference statistics reveal how certain teams have fared when Vinovich has officiated their games over the past five years. If the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers end up facing each other in the championship, it would mark the second time this season that Vinovich has overseen their clash. The Ravens emerged victorious with a score of 33-19 on Christmas Day.

Notably, the Kansas City Chiefs are the only remaining team that did not have Vinovich as the referee for any of their games this year.

Vinovich has had an illustrious career in the NFL, having just completed his 18th season as an official, with 15 of those years spent as a referee. Despite experiencing a serious heart condition that forced him to take a break from 2007, Vinovich returned to the field and has been a stalwart presence in the league since 2001.

The NFL also announced the rest of Vinovich's crew for the Super Bowl. Umpire Terry Killens, down judge Patrick Holt, field judge Tom Hill, line judge Mark Perlman, side judge Allen Baynes, and back judge Brad Freeman all join Vinovich for the game. Mike Chase will serve as the replay official. Notably, Perlman and Hill will be officiating their fourth Super Bowl, having previously worked with Vinovich in Super Bowl XLIX. On the other hand, Killens, Holt, Baynes, and Freeman will be officiating their first Super Bowl.

Super Bowl LVIII is set to kick off from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. The highly anticipated game will be televised on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.

As the countdown to the Super Bowl continues, fans eagerly await the matchup that will ultimately determine the champion of the 2021 NFL season.