We’re just a week away from the Super Bowl. And the city of New Orleans is buzzing, ready to welcome fans from all over. Both the Chiefs and the Eagles have already touched down in the city. And their fans are fired up, but not without their concerns. Chiefs fans seem to have one less thing to worry about: the refs. Eagles fans, on the other hand? They’re probably having nightmares about officiating after some controversial calls this season. Speaking of refs, who’s going to officiate the Super Bowl? Enter Boris Cheek, who has officiated a total of 459 games so far.
Cheek has been in the NFL for 29 years now. You’ve probably seen him many times in uniform, making the tough calls. But wouldn’t you want to know the person behind that uniform? When he’s not wearing that uniform, Boris is a husband, a father, and a basketball lover. So, who makes up Boris’ family, and what do his kids get up to?
Who is Boris Cheek’s wife?
Bories is married to Michele Cheek. The couple has been going strong for 39 years, since long before Boris ever hit the NFL field. Boris began his NFL journey in 1996, but before that, he was a college basketball player at Morgan State. “After graduation, he got into officiating. He started with church league games and then joined the Eastern Board of Officials,” his wife shared. We don’t know much about Michele or how they met. But those 39 years together make it clear they’ve probably been together since their college days.
In his early career, Cheek was officiating local games. Then one day, the opportunity to work in the Canadian Football League came knocking at his door. His officiating journey would take him to several places on the map. “The kids were young, I had a map of the world, and we would put thumbtacks in different places he’d go,” recalled Michele.
Boris and Michele’s kids
You might be wondering why a basketball player would end up in a football league. Well, the only answer we have is ‘God’s plan.’ Or maybe Boris Cheek’s younger son, Justin, has an explanation that might make more sense: “For him to have a job as an official in the NFL, or just in football in general, it was a weird crossover, but my dad grew up playing a whole bunch of different sports.” There you go – call it a crossover, or maybe it’s just Boris’ love for sports in general.
Boris and Michele have three kids. You’ve already met Justin, but there are also Joy and Jessica. Now, Joy is all about basketball, just like her dad. She even snagged his jersey number, ’21’, when she played for her college team. “He coached me a little when I was younger, but I quickly realized we’re way too similar for that to work,” Joy shared. She even played a few games in the WNBA, and as she put it, she and her dad are a lot alike. Guess what? Joy caught the coaching bug too. She’s now an assistant coach for the Ole Miss women’s basketball team.
Boris and Michele’s eldest daughter, Jessica Spencer, went in a completely different direction from the family norm. She realized her calling was as a teacher. “There was one big moment in my life when I won Teacher of the Year. And that’s who I took to my interview on the news – my dad. I didn’t play sports, but there were other things I did, and my dad was always there for that,” shared Spencer.
So, it’s Michele and the kids who make Boris the person he is off the field. With this Super Bowl game, Boris will tie with Walt Coleman for officiating the most NFL games. So, along with the Chiefs and Eagles, this Super Bowl means that bit extra for the Cheek family too!
The post Who Is NFL Referee Boris Cheek’s Wife? Meet Michelle Cheek & Super Bowl Official’s Family, Kids & More appeared first on EssentiallySports.