Who are the announcers and referees for Chargers vs. Steelers in Week 3?
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers are on the road for a second consecutive week, this time to take on a fellow undefeated team in the Pittsburgh Steelers. Very few casual NFL fans had the Steelers and Chargers at 2-0 before the season started and even fewer fans had one of these teams at 3-0 through three weeks.
Los Angeles is looking to overcome a nagging Justin Herbert injury to win a game that the team should, on paper, win. The Steelers, meanwhile, are looking for the team's first win over the Chargers at home since 2009.
As early as it is in the 2024 season, this came could end up having huge implications on the AFC playoff picture in January as both the Chargers and Steelers will be fighting for a playoff spot. Let's dive into the announcers and referees who will be present for this important Week 3 battle.
Announcers for Chargers vs. Steelers:
- Network: CBS
- Play-by-play: Jim Nance
- Color commentary: Tony Romo
- Sideline reporter: Tracy Wolfson
For the second time in three weeks, the Chargers are getting the No. 1 broadcast team for CBS as Jim Nance, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson will be on the call. With the Bolts facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, there is a good chance that Chargers fans will hear this trio again in Week 4.
This trio was on the call for Jim Harbaugh's NFL return in Week 1 but was not on the call in Week 2 as the Chargers were downgraded to one of the smallest broadcasts against the Carolina Panthers. With a limited selection of CBS games in Week 3, the Chargers and Steelers are going to be on the most TVs, as seen in this week's coverage map via 506 Sports.
- Red: Chargers at Steelers
- Blue: Texans at Vikings
- Yellow: Bears at Colts
- Green: Dolphins at Seahawks (LATE)
- Orange: Panthers at Raiders (LATE)
Referees for Chargers vs. Steelers
The lead referee for Sunday's contest is Alex Kemp. Kemp and his staff were on the main CBS broadcast last week as they called the Chiefs vs. Bengals game in Week 2's late window.
Kemp has been a head referee since 2018 and over the last four years, home teams have a winning percentage below the league average in games Kemp officiates (good news for the Chargers). So far this year, Kemp and his team have called 15 penalties on home teams and 13 penalties on visiting teams.
The rest of Kemp's crew is as followed:
- Umpire: Mike Morton
- Down Judge: Robert Richeson
- Line Judge: Rusty Baynes
- Side Judge: Lo van Pham
- Field Judge: Sean Petty
- Back Judge: Scott Helverson
Mike Morton is a former NFL player who was drafted by the Raiders and spent four seasons with the team. Because NFL referees are not full-time, he also serves as a dentist (true story) in his spare time. Richeson is a high school technology teacher, Helverson is in sales and Kemp is an insurance agent.