KNSI – A Minnesota native who spent 21 years as an NFL referee will have to find something new to do on Sundays.
Mike Spanier’’s last professional football game was on Jan. 26 when he helped officiate the Pro Bowl in Orlando.
Spanier grew up with ten siblings on a farm near Lake Henry and graduated from Paynesville High School before attending St. Cloud State University.
Spanier started refereeing while he was in college at St. Cloud State and would go onto coach high school sports. He was a teacher at St. Cloud Apollo and Bemidji before becoming an administrator for 36 years in the Sartell St. Stephen School District, where he served as principal and superintendent.
Read more: Retired NFL ref talks to KNSI
